Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-02-25

nine, this occasioned by the restric-
ton placed on shipment of cinchona
bark. Prices, as high as they are,
have not yet reached the top notch
in the estimation of authorities, and
with the advent of spring, when quiz
nine is moro actively in demand, the
price will again advance.
'"rhe consuming public is more or
less familiar with the different pre-
parations of mercury, such as Gallo
mel and corrosive sublimate. The
advance on calomel from nominal
price of 80 cents a pound before the
war to $3.50 a pound today gives
something of an idea of the erratic
conditions prevailing in the drug
world. In California, Texas and Ne
vada there are extensive mercury
mines which under ordinary condi-
tons produce sufficient mercury for
our domestic needs and leave a large
surplus for export, but since our
country has become the chief source
of supply for ammunition for the
allies, the demand for mercury far
exceeds the supply.
Mercury illuminate is used as
detonator for the large guns now in
use, and as these guns are playing
the larger part in the war, it can
readily be conceived what the demand
is for this preparation of mercury.
Glycerine Affected Too
80
been affected and caused prices to
soar on account of its use in the
manufacture of explosives. The
soap lye, or low grade glycerine
used in the manufacture of nitro
glycerin, could not be produced in
sufficiently large quantities to meet
the increasing demand, so the manu-
facturers of ammunition became ac-
tive bidders for the chemically pure
or druggist quality of glycerine and
the prices accordingly advanced.
almost the entire list of drugs
and chemicals of European and Ash
attic origin have advanced to. in many
cases, prohibitive prices. German
chemicals which are largely used in
this country have up until the pres
ent been procurable in small ulanti-
ties. These stocks, however, have be-
come completely exhausted and many
of the most widely known and used
such as phenacetin, cannot be pro-
cured at all. Every branch of the
business has been more or less af-
fected, which includes botanical, crude
and heavy drugs, essential oils, dyes
and, most of all fine chemicals.
"Antipyretics and many chemicals
of foreign origin are dispensed only
on physicians prescriptions, and, as
the retail druggists cost has adj
vanced to abnormal proportions, it is
necessary to charge accordingly. Then
these conditions must be understood
to be appreciated.
America Produces Little
American manufacturers of chem
icals are unable to meet the de-
mand, for they are largely de-
pendent on foreign sources for raw
material, little of which is produce
in this country. The warning nations
have placed an embargo on the ex-
portation of many items and are at
the same time active bidders FOR
what supplies we have on hand. Re-
Gently there has been established in
the East several plants for the manu-
facture of oarbolic acid, which should
have brought the price of this com
modify down in this country, but
just when they began producing in
quantities, European nations became
active bidders at enormous prices and
consequently there has been an adj
vance in price instead of a decline
AS expected.
''Never in the history of the bust
ness has the retail druggist been face
to face with such adverse conditions.
The effect of the war on this branch
of trade has been more far-reaching
than on any other.
"Herculean effort is being made by
all branches of the trade to serve the
public to the best of their ability, but
it is well to know what the actual
conditions are today"
Mrs. Ellen Mcdonald returned Sun
day from a two weeks visit with
friends in Occur d Alene Civ