The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-07-14
City and County Intelligence
ADVANCE OF DRUGS,
CHEMICALS AND DYES
HAS BEEN GREAT
Harmon Points Out That Quinine is
Now $500 Per Ounce

Drugs, Chemicals and dyestuffs have
been affected in price more than most
other articles of commerce by the
great war in Europe. Many of the
articles have gone out of sight, but
the first named have scared to heights
unknown in the experience of men
now living. Mr.. L. H. Harmon of the
Botkin-Harmon Drug company points
out that the United States government
found that quinine has advanced from
80 cents an ounce to $500 per ounce.
All other drugs have advanced in
nearly the same ratio
In speaking with a representative of
The Tribune Wednesday Mr. Harmon
stated that one of the curious de-
mands made upon congress to meet
the Mexican situation is a request for
an urgency deficiency appropriation of
$4,000 for the medical department OF
the navy. The unusual thing about
this request is, not that it is the re-
newal of request made some months
ago when the original appropriation
bills were framed, but that it is caused
by the high price of drugs. medicines
and medical G plies brought about by
market conditions arising from the
European war. The philosophical
economist might find subject here
for interesting speculation, and some
might argue that war would put war
out of existence because the more war
there was in the world, the more high
er prices of war supplies became, and
the more expensive it would be to
conduct new war.
Quinine at $500 Per Ounce
One of the items most necessary
for an army of white people in the
tropics is quinine," continued Mr.. Har-
mon. THE story goes that when Ad-
miral Capterton was in Hayti, he sent
"a radiogram every day or two asking
for quinne, saying that he must have
it and could not get along without it.
The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
of the Navy Department, however,
was unable to give him what he
wanted. The marines under his COM
mand were well equipped and supplied
with arms and ammunition wherewith
to meet their human enemies, but they
had no fortifcation against fever and
malaria.
The advance in the price of quinine
has been irregular, ranging from 2S
cents or 80 cents to $500 an ounce,
the highest price paid by the govern
ment. The Navy is now purchasing it
at ST. 90 or $l.7: according to the way
it can be picked up. AT one time when
the government was in urgent need of
quinine, dealers offered to sell a ton
at $500 an ounce, but this was too
ed. This bid came from Amsterdam
by cable and the purchase OF ton of
quinine at this price would amount to
$l25,OO0.
Bromides Out of Use
Other drugs have gone up also
Bromides are practically out of the
market, SO far as the navy is con-
cerned, and none is being purchased
in quantities. Permanganate of pot
ash, which is used extensively in dis
injecting has gone out of sight and the
navy is no longer buying it.
"The navy cannot buy dyestuffs, and
strangely enough, this is a serious
lack. 1t seems that the examination for
color percention in the navy is one of
the most important features of the ex-
animation for admission into this |
branch of the service. The color test
is made by using carefully and scien-
tifically dyed worsteds. Since last
fall, however, the Navy Department |
raked the whole English market to get
them. OF course the department has
on hand sets of three color worsteds,
and the test is to rive them to the
candidates with instructions TO match
them to master colors. This frequent
handling, however. has the effect of
soiling the worsteds so that in a short
time they do not represent the colors
which they are intended to repre-
sent"
Electric range for sale. A. |. Myers.