The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-21
RED CROSS SOLD
ETHER NEEDED FOR
SURGICAL TABLE
Official Minutes Record Sales
OF Quantities to Profiteering
French Brokers.

NEW YORK. July .1.-Although
an acute need for drugs of all kinds
existed overseas in 1919 and 1922.
the Red Cross sold them to brokers
in vast Quantities. the New York
American reveals today. The drugs
were then marketed by the brokers
al a big profit to themselves. While
ether was being sought for opera
tons due to war causes in Paris, a
broker, whose name Is withheld for
the present. wrote the following let.
ter, to the Red Cross, dated February
s, 1919:
Subject: 1000 pounds ether.
I'm accordance and following our
interview with Major Jordan, we
beg to confirm our offer to pur-
chase 1000 pounds OF ether. and our
accordance with the price stated
by Major Burroughs, thirty cents a
pound. less allowance of ten per
cent for shrinkage."
The above deai--one OF many STINT
lar ones-was contaminated, although
ether on other markets when IL
could be obtained brought a much
higher figure than the above.
Vast Quantities Sold.
From the minutes OF the Sales
BOARD meeting, attended by sew en-
Red Cross officials IN Paris, August
81, 1920, sale Of the following drugs,
at prices submitted. was approved:
Foot powder, 55S,47s boxes, for
| III $3.50 francs; pilulae aloine,
5,s23 bottles, at 1855 francs: Do
tassi nitrates, 1890 bottles, at 7,i7o
francs; POTASH nitras, 497 bottles,
at 1881 francs; POTASH ct sodii
tartras, $3.50 tins, at 125,200 francs;
sodii nuoride, l25 boxes. at 1000
francs; strychinine sulphas, 29.267
tubes, at 10,o92.50 francs.
So pressing was the need for the
very drugs mentioned, that the min
utes indicate 1t was not feasible to
give out all the materials asked for
ey brokers. The minutes state that
bid was received from Payelle anc
Company, No IL Rue de Liege, for
many more drugs than the ones an
proved for sale.
| Sales Of GauIe.
| The minutes continue
| In closing this sale, Major Har-
rison added 5 per cent for duty,
amounting to 13,414S2 francs, and
Fayelle and Company accepted the
order on this basis.
Major Harrison recommended de-
livery of only two or three items al
time, or in lieu of this suggested
that deposit be requested. This
suggestion was approved. Deposit
OF 10000 francs is to be made by
fayeile and Company AMI to remain
| with the Red Cross until compile
ton OF deliveries and to be applied
| on final deliveries"
Although constant appeals had been
made for gauze, the Red Cross seem
ingiy showed no hesitancy in dispos
ing or 1t to bidders. The minutes OF
the sales board meeting OF Angus,
81. 1920, show that 400 kilos OF
gauze free from all charges" wa,
approved for sale at so francs per
kiIo Tor wet and damaged gauze. and
$50 francs per kilo for cotton gauze
Rubber Goods Camouflaged.
The same minutes show that rub
Der goods was being camoufIagcd in
cases marked Kitchen utensils, %. the
minutes continuing:
MAJOR Moss reported that rubber
| goods had been found in cases
marked kitchen utensils. but as
YET Inc articles are not yet listed.
They will be ready TO offer for sale
within few DAYS, however"
How the Red Cross discussed the
manufacture OF alcohol from drugs
bought by patriotic subscription is
set forth in the minutes of the same
meeting as follows:
The question Of turning aro-
matte spirits Of ammonia into alco-
hol came up for discussion. as in
this new form il would probably
bring more. No action was taken
on the matter, however, but Il was
stated that 1t will be necessary to
| sell n -