The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-17
DRUG FAMINE AHEAD.
IF WAR CONTINUES
Prices Now Away Up and
Some Supplies May Be Cut
orr Entirely.
EUROPE'S DEMAND GREAT

II the war continues illness IL going
20 be a more expensive luxury in the
United States this coming winter than
ever before. Prices Of drugs arc even
now soaring to a height never hitherto
attained within the memory Of the old
est pharmacist.
Nor is this the worst Of II. Not only
are many drugs selling at figures which
would be prohibitive but for the neces.
sity which compels their purchase at
whatever price. but there are nan
others which In a very short time can
not be obtained for love or money un-
less the beliigerents lay down their
arm In tho next few weeks. The oun
try Is actually threatened with a drug
famine
There are several contributing causes,
all based on the war. The United
States. according to a New York manu-
facturer, depends on Europe for 40 per
cent. OF its supply. Europe. otherwise
occupied this year. is not PRODUCING J
more thar "A very small fraction of the
normal supply Of herbs and other plants
which 20 to make up most OF the houses
hold remedies and prescriptions.
EarOpe's Needs Imperative.
Then. because OF the embargo or.
shipments, only a small part OF the
products which might otherwise be sent
here fnds its way to this country.
Lastly. the necessity for drugs is
much more widespread In Europe dur
ing the Wal than in this country.
Not only do her own factories utilize
the bulk of the home grown botanical
products. but the European distributors
are b%eseeching American manufacturers
10 ship back the medicines which have
been made here from European grown
llants.
Out OF this extraordinary situation
has arisen a group Of spectators.
whose activities are contributing ma
terially to the high prices.
turers. foreseeing a famine In raw
products, are conserving such supplies
as they have and are paying fancy
prices To increase them. The New York
wholesale drug market was described
ty a retailer yesterday as "a Wall
Street with slower action on the
money"
Meanwhile. as is inevitable. the in
valid Is the sufferer. financially as well
as physically. Quinine costs five times
as much to-day as II did a month ago.
In two weeks the wholesale price has
risen from 40 cents All ounce to wa.
Manufacturer are talking now OF sub
stituting South American cinchona bark
for the product of Java, the source OF
supply normally. Blu the percentage
Of yield of the south American bark Is
very low and the substitution would
result in II heavy increase In the cost
of production.
Patent Medicines Won't Go Up.
Glyccrinc. too, is on a rampage. Eu-
rope has shut of virtually the entire
supply of crudes entering into It's manu-
facture and the local stock Is low. In
~ulencc the wholesale price, nor
mally 20 cents to % cents a pound. has
jumped TO IS ccrts. However. this in
crease IL not likely to affect the selling
price of the ma ny patent medicines OF
which gly,erinc is AN ingredient. While
his stock lasts the dispenser OF patents
may be depended upon TO sell without
augmentation OF cost, al whatever the
loss. IN some cases the price. like the
name. is 'blown in the bottle. ana
generally Il has become as standardized
us the trade mark itself.
Included in this class may be men
toned a soothing concoction FOR which
Infants are reported to cry and "A fg
syrup preparation bearing IA native son
appellation. This. despite the tact that
SIENNA leaves, imported from India, have
risen In price from A.. to 80 cents. and
the Egyptian product from " to 80
cents. In tins same category are lini-
mcnts and ointmcnts.
If the war continues till next spring
grandma may he forced to look about
!or a substitute for her tried and rue
Ctmomile ~. Tn leaves come from
and Austria and the whole
salcrs are paying 80 cents Il pound
more for them than in times of peace,
II. horehound herb, another old standb,,
~,I,.I, 10 IN .AnStr iln pru1upt hnA
1untucd from { cents TO 10, and %licoricc,
imported from Smyrna. has risen from s
cents 10 20.
Cod liver oil, despite its name, is
made iium crude oils which come from
Norway not Boston. The cost of the
crude product has advanced from $40
20 $50 ,tr barrel. According to n
wholesale druggis, some uf the cars in
the recent Astor Cup race were fed on
castor oil instead Of crude oil because OF
the sho-tsgo In the ~latter's supply. The
castor bean is of South American
growth and IL Unaffected by the war.
ThanksgIvins '~'FixinEs'' Cost More
Here's an item which spells disap-
pointment when the Thanksgiving din
ner In served: sage has risen from
- cents q pount TO SO. Thyme and
other sweet herbs, for which America
looks to France, also have advanced,
Still other increascs are shown in the
following list of articles for which this
country depends on European Turkey.
In each case the Wholesale price Ii
quoted: Permsnganatc ~ potash. IL
cents to SIZE; olive oil, 50 cents to rs
cents "A gallon Russian canthsrides, rs
cents 10 81; dog grass, 8 to 80 cents a
pound.
The Mexican war is responsible for
a jump in sarsaparilla from 0 cents
TO n. France and Germany buy large