The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
MEDICINES IN PARAGUAY
Trade in Proprietary Remedies Of,
fers Big Profits.
Consul Edward J. Norton, of Asun-
cion, Relates Interesting Facts
for American Manufacturers.

The imports OF drugs and medicines
into Paraguay IN 1865 were as follows:
Drugs $52,425. patent medicines. S22,s5s-
Details Of the imports FOR 1896 and 1s51
are not available. but they were consid-
erably larger than the imports OF 1875. for
the drug trade generally shows a steady
and prosperous Increase Drugs are sup
piled principally b.- France, Germany.
and England. ia the order named. the
United States holding only the seventh
place Our trade with Paraguay in drugs
and patent medicines is one that can be
increase considerably by correspondence.
advertising, and circularizing. In this re
spect the drug trade presents distinctive
features and has a great advantage over
most lines Of export business
A few American patent medicines have
been literally advertised by means Of
fancy cards. aimanacs. and posters. and
are very popular in this country. but so
Gar Ittle effort has been made through
newspaper advertising % increase the
popularity Of medicines or To create a
demand A weu-pIauned and distinctive
series Of newspaper advertisements. sup
plemeated by circulars. would uudoUbted-
~ help TO build uD a good steady trade
in many proprietary articles
The druggists Of Asu1Ciol-in fact all
I through this Counrry--are practically all
1 importers. as there is no wholesale drug
houses in the republic. While they carry
varied stocks Of druggists suudries. the
bulk Of their business IS confined 70 pre-
scription work and sales OF patent me5i-
cines. They have a profitable and steady
1 trade in retailing the ordinary household
remedies. such as castor cii. salts. cam
/ Hhor. glyceriu. and various roots and
seeds. 20 the poorer classes. who have
many peculiar healing combinations Of
their own.
Toilet articles. toilet soaps. perfumes
/ cosmetics. &c. are handled by druggists
/ only on a limited scale the dry goods
stores and barber shops keeping the best
I assortment Of toilet articles. but drug
Eists could be encouraged 20 take -.p larE-
I CT lines Of these goods. especially in
! cheap grades as there IS a steady de-
nand for perfumes and toilet articles
I even among the poorer classes.
Manufacturers Of patent medicines
| should have their proprietary trade
/ marks registered in Paraguay as soon as
Z they commence their business campa lgn
/ here.
/ Paraguay has an agreeable and health
l full climate. Notwithstanding about si2
months OF very hot weather. and the
Z health OF its people is better on an aver
! age than that Of the inhabitants Of The
/ coast countries Among the lower classes
I diseases Of intestinal and digestive or
/ gaHs cause the heaviest mortality. Fevers
I originating from intestinal disorders are
/ also common. Exposure and anemia brine
! on pulmonary and bronchial diseases
I hence tonics are IN good demand. Rene
/ dies for stomach troubles. ling and bron-
/ chiai diseases. blood disorders. kidney
and liver affections. together with prepa-
[ rations for whooping cough, couvulsions
/ and worms IN children, would meet with
/ good sales.
| Hair dressings and scalp tOnics have a
| constant sale; pills OF all kinds. medici-
| nal soaps. tooth powders. and long LIST
! Of sundries can be placed in this market
/ A campaign for the building up Of a
/ trade in proprietary medicines IN Para
quay should be conducted on the lines oi
/ similar enterprise IN the United States
( all printed matter. however. being ir
| Spanish. Exporters should devote sons
attention to the druggist and send hin
/ hints and cuts for displays and give sug-
/ Eestions for attracting attention to bis
| goods. No effort Is made here to display
/ goods in a striking or attractive man
/ ner. and "cut-price sales OF the many
/ special Inducements 70 buy certain srtf
/ cles which are 50 effective in the United
I states are entirely lacking in trade meth.
/ DDS IN this country.
! Goods destined for Paraguay are al
/ subject to transshipment at either Monte
/ video or Buenos Ayres. and must be vel
[ packed. as they are generally subject q
I rough handling.
Z Under the Paraguayan customs sched
/ ule drugs pay an ad valorem rate Of 2
I per cent Patent medicines have fxeC
rating OF value in the customs list and
I paw 3 per cent of that value. The loca
( valuation is generally equal to the actua
/ value Of the goods
All drugs and chemical products arr
/ weighed with their respective psckines
! Expressed chemical preparations ar,
| rated according TO the principal eIsmen
J ,,F sEzF