Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-11
DIPHTHERIA ANTIToxIN
High Price Said Not to Be Due to q
Trust.

The increase in the price of diphtheria
antitoxin is due to the manufacturing of a
higher grade of serum, and not to the
formation of an antitoxin trust as has
been reported, according to information
contained in a series of letters from man
ufacturers of antitoxin, addressed to DR..
VIM. c. Woodward, District health officer.
and made public by Commissioner Macfar-
land today
Several weeks ago, when reports relative
to the formation of an antitoxin trust
were in current circulation throughout the
country, Commissioner mcfarland direct
ed Health Officer Woodward to correspond
with the manufacturers Of the medicine
and obtain any information available rela-
tive to the cause of the increase in the
price of the product. The communicat tons
made public today are in response to DR..
Woodwards requests for information.
In forwarding the correspondence to Mr.
mcfarland DR. Woodward states that the
letters are from all of the principal firms
engaged in the manufacture and sale of
diphtheria antitoxin in the country, as fol-
lows: Dr. H. M. Alexander & Co., Marietta,
Pa; H. X. milford Company, Philadelphia,
Pa; Parke, Davis & Co, Detroit. Mich, and
Frederick Stearns & Co, Detroit. Mich. A
letter from the commissioner of health of
Chicago is also included. setting forth the
situation there so far as it was not already
known
DR.. Woodward calls the attention of the
Commissioner to a circular issued by the
H. K Milford Company setting forth the
situation. He states that the facts con-
tanned in this circular are substantially
the same as those embodied in the letters
from other manufacturers
The circular is addressed ITO the health
departments" and, in substance, states
that for the past nine years the company
has been preparing antitoxin especially to
meet the needs of the departments At
first three grades were offered, known as
standard. containing 100 units; potent, con-
,,,.sf o,.I
tanning 500 units. The demand being prin-
cipally for the concentrated product the
company so it states, discontinued the
weaker strength and offered but two po-
tencies.
The demand for the concentrated serum
the company states during the last two
years has greatly increased, and it was de-
termined the 1st of January last to discon-
tnue the general distribution of the lower
potency serum and to offer but one
strength. Much of the weaker serum, it is
stated, was returned to the company be-
cause of lack of demand.
The company states that the cost OF pro-
ducing antitoxin has materially increased
during the past few years, yet by practf-
cally disseminating the manufacture or
sale of the lower grade serum, the COM
pany states it decided to reduce the price
is per cent The present price of anti
toxin, 500 units, is given at $1.10, and the
tency was s1.25. The price of 1900 units is
stated at $3.50, and the former price Of the
drug of the same strength is given at
$3.50
II is stated that serum is furnished
boards of health at IS cents per 1000 units.
There is no trust existing among the
manufacturers of antitoxm, says the
company, nor is such an organization pos
sible. since the preparation of antitoxin is
only small PORTION of the general bust
ness which each firm transacts." The COM
pany declares that the profits accruing
from the production of antitoxin are small.
DIR. Arthur R. Reynolds. commissioner of
health in Chicago, in his letter to DR..
woodward states that the business agent
of the city has been offered diphtheria an.
titoxin at the rate of rs cents per 1000
units.