The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-02-17
PRICE OF DRUGS
GOING SKYWARD
LOCAL DRUGGISTS ADMIT RATES
ARE CLIMBING TO UMPIRE
CEDENTED HEIGHTS
GERMAN SUPPLY CUT OFF
SOME OF THE MEDICINES MOST
WIDELY USED IN HOMES
ARE MOST EFFECTED

These are sad, sad days indeed for
the hypOcnondrlac. No more can ne
experiment with his stomach or liver
or spleen to find our what is the
matter" that is, at nominal cost. Such
experimentation is fast becoming a
rich mans luxury and it may be well
for the sake Of many stomachs and
livers and spleens that it is so.
Prices OF drugs generally and es-
pecially on several in most common
family usage are soaring to dizzy
heights and present indications are
that only the blue sky will be the linn
it. Of course, the blame must be
placed on the war.
Germany has produced practically
all the drugs in the world. The Ger
mans have been famed as the worlds
best chemists. No country could COM
pete with the Teutons in cost of drug
and chemical manufacture.
Now, not only is Germany unable to
export her drugs but she has ceased
to manufacture them for commercial
purposes. Many drugs and chemicals
would not be allowed to be shipped
out, in any event, because they are
needed in the manufacture of eXplo-
sives. This applies to glycerin, Gel
luluse and acids of various kinds.
Accordingly, until the U.S.. can re-
adjust itself to become self-support-
ing in drug and chemical manufac-
ture it must search the corners OF the
world for its drug supply and also
pay the price.
Sank Centre thus far has only
slightly felt the effect of the soaring
prices but this is because the local
apothecaries have not advanced the
old stocks they had on hand but are
disposing of them at old prices. When
these stocks are exhausted and the
druggists are compelled to renew
them at the greatly advanced whole
sale rates, the local retail prices will
jump skyward with great bounds.
The druggists say there is no evad
ing this big advance and that it will
be years before present prices are
again reached because the war is max
ing terrific inroads into visible sup
plies of drugs and chemicals and pro-
duction for commercial purposes in
the warning countries has stopped
American chemists never dreamed
that chemicals could reach the high
figures which have already been
reached and which may go immeasur-
able higher
For instance, asperin, drug used
chiefly as an ingredient in medicine
for the alienation Of coughs and
colds, is practically off the market be-
cause practically I'll of it had come
from GERMANY and none is being re-
leased now by that country It has
increased in price 500 per cent in this
countrv. Some is now being made in
New York.
Carbolic acid, a favorite antiseptic,
which wholesaled few months ago
at Is cents pound, is now selling for
$2.25.
Quinine has skyrocketed from Is
cents an ounce to $3.50 and the end
is not yet. So scarce is this drug be-
coming and SO great the demand that
the largest chemical firm in the Unit
ed States has instructed its agents to
buy every bit Of Quinine procurable
with no pickering about the price ask
ed.
POTASSIUM and sodium bromides
have scared from 40 cents to Sc
pound while permanganate Of rotas-
SUM has vo"lted from Is cents per
pound to SITE.