The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-20

specially German patented chemi-
cais, was the game these gentlemen
piayeu, and at such enormous profits
as 70 make the plung,rs in war
nrides' OF later days seem conserva-
i've bankers by comparison For in
stance, the Spectator who in July,
1914, invested $1,000 In antipyrin,
used extensively In headache reme-
dies, would, in 1915 or 1915, have a
| profit ON his purchase of $4,000.
with no possible chance of a slump
In the market This was practically
! true or all patented German medici-
nal chemicals in general use, as we'll
as many substances necessary in the
arts and sciences.
No merchant sells more diverse
| ly born or more widely travelled mer-
chandise than the. pharmacist, and,
accordingly. no business Is SO quick
| iy disorganized when trade routes are
disturbed as the importing and dis
tributing of drugs. for the arteries of
the human hody-sensitive through
out to any change In the volume of
now in even the most remote branch.
The law of supply and demand
applies likewise to drugs; therefore, IL
would be as natural to expect rise
In German chemicals as to look for
an increase in the cost of coal II ell
the mines stopped working for
year.
For time no marked change
occurred in drugs imported from
neutral lands. for there were large
stocks OF hand; but as trade routes
were distributed by the closing Of
the old markets and the difficulties
or transportation increased, due to
hazards of the sea, and consequently
warehouse stocks were exhausted
slowly but surely came the upward
swing in the cost OF dozens of crude
drugs and their y-products-drugs
which are gathered In strange hooks
and in hidden corners OF the world
as far from the clash and the turmoil
OF battles as ever they could be.
1t Is not generally known that
most of the castor bean, from which
castor oil is pressed. comes to the
United Staten frem India, Indeed
our annual importation in normal
times is nearly a million bushels. The
Orient has always l,roduced this deli
cacy' of our childhood days and II is
interesting to remember that the
Ebers papyrus, en- Egyptian medical
manuscript. written when Moses WIS
young man. speaks OF the medici-
,, nal virtues of the castor plant.
To-day importers are viewing with
apprehension land children with joy)
the castor OIL situation. Not only is
production 1esrened. but the dificul-
ties or sea transportation from India
are increasing with the lack OF ships
In fact, ca nth. heaven and ocean seem
to conspire against castor oil: subma-
rines are ambitious to send It to the
bottom of the sea, while aeroplanes
demand IL as lubricant In large
quantities. Therefore, with our am
bilious air program and our dimin-
ishing supply of oil we have reason
TO study the situation a little.
However. the castor plant will
grow rapidly almost everywhere: it
Is frequently seen cultivated in our
gardens. The machinery for crush
IHg rs n $50 available SO, II a short
age really becomes Inevitable, the de-
pa rtrnent of agriculture will be able
to incubate another infant industry.
The changes in drug prices which
have come in this war are due chron-
ologfcaliy TO the blockade of Ger
many, in relation TO the enormous
chemical manufa curing industry of
that country to specuia ton in existing
stocks at the outbreak of the war, to
the congestion OF transportation both
ny land and sea, and terminal facfli-
ties In helligerent countries: to the
removal OF blockaded shipping from
world trade. causing a shortage in
sea transports; to the destruction by
commerce raiders Of chipping and
cargoes and the high marine insur-
ance and freight rates; TO the diver
sion J7f labor To war rstIrsesas from
trades concerned with the gathering.
marketing or manufacturing of drugs
and medicinal substances. and to the
accumulation or stocks OF drugs by
army organization"