Evening star., 1933-05-14
Growth of the Drug Trade
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN,

not recommend them, partly because
they were aware Of the quackery in
VOWED and partly because they desired
TO reserve to themselves the making of
medlclnes. There was no Official regu-
lation OF the drug trade. Indeed, it
was not until 1920 that the United
States Pharmacopoeia was first pub
lished. 1t was printed in English and
Latin and listed the materials used in
medicines. 1t gave formulas and de-
scribed processes and tests for the
establishment of identity, purity and
strength.
But it was not until 1886 that the
National Formulary was issued and not
until June 80, 1906, that Congress
finally passed the pure food and drug
act. This act made standard the
formulas OF the United States Pharrna-
copoeia and National Formulary and the
integrity OF all standard drugs is pro-
tected by law. The United States Fcoi
and Drug Administration. establiched
in the Department of Agriculture. rir-
orously pOlices the industry. Hea;y
penalties are visited upon any manu-
facturer issuing spurious product.
This act probably affects more people
than any other law Of the land
Scrutiny by Medical Association.
There is another unofficial body,
however. Of which the public hears lit
tie. The American Medical Association.
the membership of which includes some
two-thirds of all physicians in the
country. has created council of 16 Of
Its members selected for their high
standing In their profession. This
council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
determines what drugs may be listed
IN tne omclal book OF the association.
1t Is called New and Nom official Rene
dles and Is designed to supplement the
United States Pharmacopoeia and Ma
tlonal Formulary. Before being listed
any product must be submitted to tests
IN the laboratories maintained by the
American Medical Association. No prod
uct which has not been thus approved
may be advertised in the journal of the
American Medical Association or ex-
hlblted at meetings.
In addition to the Federal pure food
and drug act there are the laws of the
States which supply additional safe
guards. The medical profession, rs
Wen as the drug manufacturing indus
Try, Is In sort of tacit conspiracy TO
maintain high standards and any quack
product receives but short shrift. The
profession and the industry feel that 1t
Is to their advantage to maintain the
purity OF drugs TO the end that the peo-
pie will continue TO have confidence.
In 1899, prior to the passage of
the pure food and drug act, the value
OF orug manufactures was $81, ,7O3.O .O7O.
Almost Immediately upon passage of
this law sales increased and by 1914
had reached $3.50 0,473O28 BY 1918 they
had more than doubled again, exceeding
in value s32600O, 900.
Although Germany. France and Eng
land are famous for their drug and
chemical trade. American drug products
now flnd markets in a hundred foreign
countries and exports average 100000
600 a year. Imports are only about
$4,000 000 There are certain patented
medicines which have a demand here
but are made exclusively elsewhere,
notably in Germany
The typical American drug store has,
in recent years gained the reputation
Of being as much Of a hardware store,
restaurant, stationery store. or a
fruit stand as it is pharmacy but the
bsis OF the business still is the drug
trade.