Bisbee daily review., 1904-12-24
DRUG FRAUDS
 ARE LAID BARE
NATIONAL RETAIL DRUGGISTS ADMIT BOGUS MEDICINES
 HAVE MENACED LIFE.
Organization Was Slow to Change At. titude But Finally Comedies it is Fully Proved Dealers Have Been Victims of Counterfeiters.

Chicago, Dec 23.-Spuricus drugs and counterfeit proprietary medicines for five years have menaced the health and even the life of those who pur- chase from retail dealers. according to the official admission of Charles II. Avery, president of the Chicago Retail Druggists, Association, and Thomas V. Wooten, secretary of the national as sociation. and evidence given before United States Commissioner Mason. | The admission makes a complete reversal of attitude on the part of this Organization. which hereafter will make as whole-souled a fight for pure drugs. it is believed, as hitherto it's officers have made to convince the public that recent arrests and prose cutions were mere trust persecution and an assault on the retailers right l to by the cheapest in the market.
 For five years the retail druggists of the United States have fought against the Farben Fabriken of Elberfeld com pany. one of the largest wholesale drug houses in the United States. as serting that the drug trust was back of the prosecution of mail orGer houses who were able to furnish drug gists with various drugs ar greatly re duced prices and that the smaller deal CT in high-priced drugs is being crushed.
 The arrest of several men in Chi. cago recently charged with selling ad- uEterared aristol through the mails brought the fight of five years to a eli max. When the raids were made the druggists of Chicago, many of whom are said to have been supplied by the alleged illegal mail order men, stated that the trusts" were again in opera. ton. Attorney Henry Morton for the wholesale Crug house declared that of the 10000 druggists in tha United States 5000 are known to be buying adulturated drugs. placing the lives of thousands of persons in peril. This brought about a meeting of the drug. gists' association and a radical change of front.
 As the result of this meeting Charles H. Avery. president of the local retail Druggists association. and Thomas V. WOoten. secretary Of the national as sociation, issued a statement which has been sent to every druggist in the United States.
 After Tecounting the fact that the re. tailers had previously rejected as with. out foundation the allegation that spurious drugs and commercials of proprietary products of the Faben Fab. riken company were being largely sold the statement continues:
 As the result of our investigation justice compels us to state that the mass of positive evidence there shown is absolutely beyond dispute We came away burdened with humiliation that such condition of affairs could be possible in a city where so many competent pharmacists are employed in dispensing medicines. because the fraudulent character of the article dis. pensed could have been proven by the simplest test.
 'It is our desire to publicly commend the investigation that is being made of the frauds to which druggists have fal. len victims, because these investiga. tions cannot result otherwise than aG- yantageously to honest pharmacists AHS stdtSHSAL mdue Oy MT. AE' lery and MT. Wooten," said Secretary i Bodemann, of the state board of phar. macy, lis, I regret to say, true Tn ev- cry particular. The facts are so hu initiating as to cause every Chicago pharmacist who loves his calling to bow his head in shame"
 Testimony was given Wednesday be fore Commissioner Mason that certain drugs dispensed by the alleged mail order drug men were mislabled and might in many cases cause death. Variety of fresh fish direct from