The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-24
RESEARCHES
ARE VALUABLE
TO DIR UGGISTS
+. MergenS, State Chemist, Out
lires Experiences in Talk
at Sioux City.

Sioux City, Iowa, May 24.-LP)-
Researches to determine how drugs
and chemicals may be kept so that
they will retain their full strength
and not be subject to deterioration
and change should be of great value
to druggists, c. H. Mcrgens, assist
ant state chemist for North Dakota.
told the North Central States Food,
Drug, Dairy and Feed Officials as
ISOLATION in convention here today.
Outlining his experience with sam
pies OF drugs and chemicals taken at
random from North Dakota stores,
Mergens said conditions are not all
they should be although some i'm
provement has been shown in recent
years.
Sanitary conditions in North Da-
kOta drug stores are about equal to
those prevailing in the states gro
Gerry stores, he said. In 1920 they
we're on par with restaurants.
Wholesale establishments top the
list Of business enterprises from a
sanitation standpoint, he said
Ont Of Sit samples taken from the
shelves of druggists in his state in
1925 80 per cent were found to be
adulterated within the meaning of
the law, Mergcns said. In most cases
they were below the standard
strength.
Conditions Improved
Results in 1926, based on about
GOO samples, show a decrease Of six
per cent in the number found to be
adulterated. This is not ms signif-
icant as it might be, however, be-
cause "all of these preparations can
be manufactured. transported, stored
and delivered to the consumer with
out becoming stronger or weaker
than the established Standards" he
said.
Researches planned by the Nation
al Pharmaceutical association will
determine the keeping qualities of
various preparations and the protcc-
ton afforded by colored glass con-
tainers. The effect of light rays
upon drugs and chemicals also will
be studied. From the standpoint of
the person administering the law the
researches will be valuable in help
ing them to fix the responsibility
for the deterioration of pcrishablc
mcdicinals.
Only comparative few of drug
stores in his state are properly equip
ped to handle serum and similar
biological products, Mergens said.
Less than 10 per cent Of such stocks
are being kept at temperatures be-
low 40 degrees and in cases where
such scrums are needed Immediately
difficulty is sometimes experienced
in obtaining them quickly.
Scrums Hard to Keep
In one case doctor needed serum
Immediately to treat case of diph-
liberia. There were three drug stores
In the city and all they could muster
WIS one tube of active serum. The
contents of that one tube are be-
lieved to have saved the patients
life. AS the result Of difficulty in
keeping serums a large proportion
Of this class Of business is handled
BY rush mail orders, Mergens said.
It is possible. Mergens said, that
some iniustices may be done the
by delay in analysing the
samples after they are obtained by
his department. The samples usually
are collected in the summer months
but are mot analysed until November
o. December, he said. Laboratory
York in connection with the registra-
Hon Of beverages, feeding stuffs.
and fertilizers often de-
nv analysis Of drug samples, he ex-
plainedc,
The free analytical service offered
Is the people Of the state by the |
.tate rSeulatorv department aids It |
d bringing to light interesting facts
refntjug 20 public health, MerGens
I'll. One sample submitted was .
,aodieih1 advertised to contain Is !
~ sent Of alcohol and three. minirhs