Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-01-25
MEMBERS OF MEDICAL SOCIETY
FAVOR THE PLAN.
All Kinds of Serum Possible
Vaccine AIso-Davis of Detroit
Coming to Chicago to Offer Ex-
reanation for the Trust-Seeretary
Wallis Statement.
PLANT COST ONLY $4,000

Chicago, Jan. ia municipal lab
oratory for the manufacture of anti
toxin under the supervision of public
chemists may be the outcome On the
campaign which has been instituted
by the Chicago Medical society
against the high price exacted by the
manufacturers combine.
At a conference of officers of the or
ganization the feasibility of the
scheme was discussed in detail The
result was the decision to refer the
matter for final action TO another
meeting with the recommendation
that the plan be adopted as the perma-
nent solution of the problem. If the
approval of the SOCIETY is obtained
some aldermen will be asked to intro
duce an ordinance creating the lab
oratory and making the necessary ap-
propriaticn for its foundation and
maintenance.
The arbitrary advance of prices OF
one of the essentials of the modern
treatment OF diphtheria is held by the
physicians TO show that provision for
the constant supply of the article de
wolves upon the municipality as a
measure for the preservation of the
public health. The high price now
placed on the serum by the only three
firms in the country which manufac-
ture il means that thousands of chill
dren may perish in the first diphtheria
epidemic which appears in the city.
II was estimatet by the medical so
ciety officials that a municipal labora'
tory could be established with an ap-
preparation of $4,000, and $4,000 for
the operating expenses the first year
II is believed that the institution could
be made self-supporting in the course
OF three or four years. All kinds OF
serums. including vaccine, would be
manufactured and sold not only TO
consumers in Chicago but in all parts
Of the state. In Newark, n. j., where
the municipal experiment has been
tried. the cost OF antitoxin is not more
than % cents a dosage. The price
charged by the trust is 81 a dosage.
The three houses which control the
present antitoxin output are Stearns
OF Cleveland. Milford of Philadelphia,
and Parke Davis & Co. of Detroit.
Mr.. Davis will come to Chicago to de-
fend his firm against the allegations
that an antitoxin trust had been
formed. He declared that the serum
sold now is the grade formerly denom-
mate. concentrated" and that the
price is the same as always.
IF the contention of Mr.. Davis is
true" said Secretary Walls, ''the Sc
verest criticism of the serum firms
would be. not that they had formed a
combine. but that they had ceased 70
the cheaper grades OF
antitoxin. The proper policy there
fore would be 10 take steps to secure
the renewal of the preparation of the
other grades. But my belief is that
the present product is not the con
centrated,' although sold at the price
of that grade.
The officers of the society are i'm
pressed with the feasibility of a mum
icipal laboratory. There is now no gov
eminent supervision of any kind IN
the preparation of so important med
ical essential as antitoxin. In this we
are far behind foreign countries,
where the serum is made under NUM-
cipal and often national inspection.
AS far as the private firms are con-
cerned, 1 believe that they will recede
from their position. The sentiment
Of physicians throughout the country
is now arrayed against the men who
have advanced the price Of antitoxin-
To effect will be a natural discrimin-
alton against these firms in other arti-
cles which they sell TO the profession,
and think the pressure Wal have the
desired effect"