Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-25
STATE HOUSE.
u -
Dr.. A. G. Yeang Talks
Of Antitoyin Contract.
Several Pardon Matters for the
December Council Meeting.
Smith { Rumery Corporation H.
creases Capital Stock.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Tuesday, Dec. 81, at 10 A. M.

Tuesday, Dec. Fl, at 10 A. M.
Under the heading of "Not Square
Deal" the forthcoming bulletin of the
State Board Of Health will contain the
following article by the secretary of
the board, DR.. A. G. Young of Angus
ia, relative to the securing of a sup
ply of antitoxin for use in the State
in accordance with an act of the last
Legislature:
THE State Board of Health did not
give us square al is the plaintive
cry OF two travelling men who are the
Maine representatives of two firms
which produce diphtheria antitoxin.
They now appear to be telling stories in
which the truth is measured out with
a very short yardstick. If they We're
left it was simply because they did
not work as they should for their en-
ploycrs interest, or their firms did not
wish to make a contract with the
State Board of Health which would
comply with the letter and the spirit of
the new antitoxin law
1.-The four leading antitoxin produce
ers were invited to submit proposals to
the State Board of Health for supply
ing antitOxin for the use of the differ
ent towns DR.. H. NJ Alexander & Co
of Marietta, Pa, and the Lederle Anti
toxin Laboratories of New York sub
mitted their proposals promptly and
in accordance with the conditions
which had been suggested, or perhaps
/ might say imposed, by the State
Board of Health. One of these condi-
lions was that the State Board of
f,l,z A.
establishing az least 100 local stations
for the sale of antitoxin, if it should
deem it best to do so, so that they
might, as well as possible, serve the
total number of municipalities in the
State. On this point, the best talk
which could be had from the represen-
tatives of Parke. Davis e Co. and The
Muiford Co. was that they would es-
tablish two or three central stations in
the State, from which physicians and
local boards of health might obtain
antitoxin when it was needed.
Even a non professional reader of
this will understand, without any ex-
PLANTATION. that when antitoxin is need
ed it is wanted quickly. Those t.vn
companies hedged upon the other terms
and there was undoubtedly an under
standing between those two men to
work together. They both said their
companies would have nothing to do
with the contract as suggested by the
State Board of Health. and l have been
told that member of one of the firms
said the same thing. These two repre-
sentatives were instructed that the an
toxin law would not go into effect
until early in July, but one of them
In the Office of the State Board of
Health, was asked to get in his pro-
posals promptly if he wished TO make
them. so that copies of them could be
submitted to the members of the spc-
cal committee of the State Board of
Health before it had its meeting at an
earlier date.
"Since the contract was given to the
Lederlc Laboratories the two dssatis-
fled representatives have been express
ing their willingness to sell antt0Xin
at the rates which have been made by
the state Board of Health in its con-
tractor one-half or onethird of the
usual rates. They appear now to be
willing to favor physicians who former
~ had to pay excessive rates and very
often nut their hands into their own
I"tN'tS " pay WI 'tiilit'Nih " w
used for patients from whom they
know they could never collect cent.
They profess now to be willing tn have
mercy on towns which in emergencies
are Obliged to purchase anttoxin al
most at Wholesale when they arc I'M
fortunate enough to have an epidemic
of diphthcria. But | now have in my
hand bill Which q town with small
population received, amounting to
S192.10 for antitoxin which came from
those dissatisfied firms. Their rates in
the bill are s. for 1000 units against 80
cents for the antitoXin for which ar
rangcments have been made by the
state board of Health: 81 for 5000 units
instead of $l.20: and $50 for 5000 units
against $50 of State Board of Health
rates.
'Jt is very doubtful whether local
boards OF health can legally furnish
any other antitoXin than that for which
arrangements have been made by the
State Board of Health and before fur
nishing other artitoXin, for their own
protection. it might be we'll for them
to have a clear answe" TT this question.
and in the interest of their towns il
might be wei for them to be sure that
they arc getting the State BOARD Of
Health antitoXin.
"The state Eoard of Health does not
of course presume to dictate To phySi-
clans what brand of antitoXin they
shall use. hat no arrangement has been
made by the state Board Of Health
with any company save the L"derle
Laboratories for the sunnlN of antitoN-
in. The proposals fron, the 'ederle and
the Alexander companies differed but