Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

ESTABLISHED 1868.

CANADIAN PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL Sician.

[blocks in formation]

The painful frequency with which this head line appears in our daily papers should induce the pharmacists to allow their thinking outfit to get into active notion. A question to ponder is, in how many cases are we directly and indirectly responsible when fatal accidents occur due to the above cause?

Have not the majority of us been all too ready to shift the responsibility for the public safely from our shoulders the moment we pass prescriptions or other preparation over the counter, confident that they are properly dispensed and labeled?

In how many pharmacies of the Dominion are "all reasonable precautions observed ?" We hold that such is not included in merely proper labeling with correct directions or even a verbal warning, "be careful and not take the wrong medicine one of them is a poison."

In our hands are "matters of life and death," more completely than in those of any other body

No. I

of men in the community, not excepting the phy"All that a man hath will he give for his life" was spoken by One having authority," and should be accepted as our standard of value on human life, and the inspiration of our acts when dealing with an article of such priceless worth.

The present prevailing custom of handing out harm, ss mixtures for internal use in bottles identical in shape, size, color and generai appearance with those in which dangerous lotions and liniments are dispensed is a perilous practice, and when the two bottles go together, is little short of crime.

Avarice and parsimony will, we fear, prevent an initiatory movement for reform in this matter

among those who are financially interested. There are poison bottles and poison guards, plenty on the market today, which can be procured at a moderate outlay and yet how few drug stores are provided with them or make use of them in general dispensing stringent. Legal enactments entirely prohibiting such practices should be placed on the statute books without delay by our Legislators.

AMERICAN WAR TAX STAMPS.

Since July 1st manufacturers of proprietary articles, soaps, perfumery, chewing gum, etc., in the United States are required to affix stamps in proportion to the retail price of their goods before offering them for sale, and the holders of stocks, whether wholesale or retail, are required to do the same, but there is a provision for a rebate on goods exported. The securing of this drawback will no doubt be attended with rigmarole, affidavits, red tape, fees, loss of time, etc., that will in most cases eat up the return, and so many proprietors advise that they will sell in Canada at old prices, standing the cost of stamps themselves. Others say they will rebate the stamps, charging the expense of Consular and other fees, while the Cuticura people of Boston write We do not rebate for stamps on any of our goods. Our prices are uniform throughout the world." In other words, consumers of

[ocr errors]

their goods throughout the world.nust pay & share a of the American war tax whether legally required

to or not.

It is not unlikely that proprietors who have a considerable foreign trrde, will establish manufacturing branches here, from which not only the Canadian but other foreign markets can be supplied without paying the stamp tax. The only drawback to manufacturing many of these preparations on this side is our outrageously high excise duty on spirits.

FRAUDULENT ADVERTISING.

The unscrupulous methods resorted to by departmental stores for drawing trade are more fully illustrated by their advertising methods than by any of their other numerous fakes. Owners of proprietary articles who have been successful in saving their goods from ruin by price-slaughtering, have had to suffer from attacks through the medium of their advertisements.

The latest firm to receive the undesirable attention of these pirates through the daily papers is the Ontario Chemists' Manufacturing Co., of Hamilton. This firm has been most successful in controlling the price of their goods by confining their sale exclusively to the pharmacists and as a consequence have incurred the enmity of these vipers and must needs taste their venom.

On July 18th the advertisement in the daily papers of the R. Simpson Co. contained in its list of prices "Standard Sarsaparilla," 35c. Immediately on the appearance of the advertisement, representatives of the O. C. Co. made efforts to secure what stock they might have on hand, but to all enquirers the response was the same, "We have none." Finally one of the employees induced a lad to accept a bottle of some fake preparation of their own, as “a better article."

In the mouthings of these concerns they ever proclaim in trumpet tones their thorough reliability and unswerving integrity. What have they to say to such a low-down piece of rascality, so worthy of a discredited race track tout? What chance has an honest man in conducting a legitimate business, when opposed by methods of which this is only a sample? The heads of this concern are Christian gentlemen, high up in church circles, posing as disciples of the meek and lowly One, who taught a religion, one of the basic principles of which was man's duty to his fellowman.

Further, the drug department in this establishment is under the management of a graduate of the Ontario College of Pharmacy. Surely he is not a criterion by which to judge the code of honor and standard of professional ethics which prevails among

the graduates of this igiturion. It is time some means was provided for bringing members who disgrace their profession by such disreputable tactics to a realization of their true position.

TIME FOR A CHANGE.

It is becoming more certain as time passes that the pharmacist can expect no assistance from the patent medicine man in the struggle for fair treatment and just rights. Object lessons, if such are needed, are furnished at al! meetings of proprietary men, which should convince those concerned that upon themselves and themselves alone must the retail interests depend for any improved conditions that the future may have in store for them. Instead of a body of earnest, determined men assembling themselves together bent on rectifying a wrong and putting forth their best efforts to accomplish the object for which they came together, their meetings usually develop into a whining match, wherein each airs a grievance and offers sundry resolutions regarding their bete noire, the Dragon "substitution," while conspiring with the newspapers for the complete annihilation of that fiend the retail druggist, who dares to occupy ever so small a space on this mundane sphere without offering an apology for his presumption. This howl of "substitution" is becoming mighty monotonous and more than a trifle stale.

Now as a matter of fact, why should the pharmacist not substitute if he is so disposed? There is no unbalanced account between the patent medicine man and himself unless it be the debt owed by the former for services rendered in introducing his goods and helping to build up a trade for him. The pharmacist either owns or pays rent for the store he occupies, and to the assistant he pays wages. What right then has any body of men to dictate as to the manner of conducting his busi

ness.

We have long been convinced that as a matter of business it is bad policy to endeavor to persuade a customer into the purchase of one preparation when they have come in with their mind made up for another. The results of patent medicine using are usually unsatisfactory, and a wise pharmacist will allow the proprietor to bear the burden of responsibility rather than assume it himself. The purchaser comes in with a mind biased from reading misleading statements of miraculous cures, which have never taken place, and doubtful testimonials of unlocateable people. Better let him learn at the cost of a little money and some experience rather than constitute yourself the guardian of his interests.

If the patent medicine proprietors are so anxious

GRAPE
SALINE

Refreshing at all times."

Cools and Purifies the Blood.
Assists the Liver and Kidneys.
Invigorates the whole System.
Cures Dyspepsia. Sick Headache,
and Bi'iousress.

Prevents Seasickne ́s and Nausea.
Relieves Acidity and Flatulence.
Clears he Complexion.
Promotes Perspiration if taken in
blood-warm water or followed

by a cup of hot tea.

DIRECTIONS. - A teaspoonful produces a refreshing drink; two teaspoonfuls act as a laxative. To be taken. preferably, in a half tumbler of tepid water, but cold water, not iced, will answer.

PREPARED AT

THE GRAPE SALINE LABORATORY

[blocks in formation]

ELLIOT'S

Concentrated

LIME FRUIT JUICE,

"PINTS" $1.60. "QUARTS" $3,

is the best value on the market.

We deal very largely in MINERAL ACIDS and make close prices.

Pepper's Sulpholine Lotion,
Sheep Dip 15, 58 and 1128.
"Red Cross" Fly Felts, boxes

of 50 pkgs (3s). 90c. each,

Sure Catch Fly Poison Plates.
Tanglefoot.

Sure Catch Sticky Paper.
Hance's Fruit Juices.

Chloride Lime, low figures.

Bryant's Root Beer.

Adam's Root Beer.

Foot Elm, (special offer.)

Hoyt's Cologne, (special offer.)
Maypole Soap Dyes.

Oil Peppermint, Hotchkiss. 25 oz. bots.
Somerville's Gum with Hammock.

Soda Silicate.

Mass Liquorice Extract.

Clinical Thermometers, each with certificate of CORRECTION,

French Castor Oil, Ist pressure, pharmaceutical or mechanical, 40 lb. screw cap tins. Prompt Shipment of Orders Our Specialty.

Special Attention to Letter Orders.

ELLIOT & CO.,

5 FRONT STREET EAST,

TORONTO,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

to stop substitution the way is open and plain before them, viz.: protect their goods so that the retail man may get a living profit and substitution will disappear.

PROFESSOR PAYNE'S WORK.

If there is a man in the United States to whom the pharmacists of that country owe an especial debt of gratitude, that man is Professor Geo. F. Payne, of Atlanta, Georgia. Persistently, courageously, doggedly since the day in Asheville when he first broached the subject, he has fought for the proper recognition of United States naval pharmacists. Undaunted in the face of apparently unsurmountable difficulties, he has with true Anglo-Saxon tenacity and persistency battled to accomplish his purpose and accomplish his labor of love, and on the 17th of June last he had the proud satisfaction of realizing that his labor had not been in vain. On that day President McKinley signed the bill which conferred on the members of the profession serving on board warships the title of Pharmacists of the Navy, with the rank of warrant officers. To use Prof. Payne's words: "This work shows that organized pharmacy can accomplish much, but disorganized efforts can secure but little. We feel that the whole profession of pharmacy of the United States has good cause to thank itself for the success of its efforts in this great work for this recognition of the profession of pharmacy." The magnitude of the task undertaken can be appreciated when it is known that the movement received strenuous opposition from the naval medical staff. If pharmacy had more Geo. F. Payne's within its ranks it would speedily occupy the position in the community to which its importance renders it entitled.

THE ADVANCE IN PRICES.

Evidence is accumulating to show that the American patent medicine man is not going to have the whole say" in shouldering his share of the war tax upon the retail dealer. The readiness with which they proclaimed their intention of raising prices to cover the stamp tax is meeting with a counter blast from the more independent retailers, and from present indications these gentlemen may find this last development a "harder nut to crack" than that of substitution" or "cutting."

This matter receives attention from us because of its importance to Canadians. Already we are called to bear a share of this war burden. Our wholesale jobbers are receiving invoices with the addition of amounts to cover stamps, and in other cases prices for proprietaries have been advanced. Section 26 of Schedule B. of the Act provides for a

rebate of the amount of the tax when goods are exported. Here is a clear case then of intention to make Canadians relieve the manufacturer of his share of tax by the advance in prices.

Are we going to sit calmly down and endure this? Are we going to allow ourselves to be kicked and not resent it? Is there spirit enough left in us to fight or are we milksops?

We commend the spirit of the west as displayed in the following resolution. To Canadians we say "Go and do likewise."

We, the undersigned members of the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association and Druggists of Oklahoma Territory, in convention assembled, hereby agree upon our honor that we will not accept advertising matter, nor keep for distribution in our places of business any sort of advertising, nor permit our names to appear in any of the Territorial papers beneath the local advertisements of any patent medicine firms who have on account of the stamp tax raised the price of their medicines.

We further pledge ourselves to discourage the use of all medicines that have been advanced in price on account of the stamp tax until prices have been reduced to the established prices in force prior to July 1, 1898.

We feel that the patriotism of these large institutions that have grown wealthy at the expense of the people of this country, is at an extremely Jow ebb when they force upon the retail druggists, not only the full burden of this tax, but in addition thereto a large profit on the money they invest in revenue stamps, and we ask that they show their patriotism by at once placing in force the old prices and bearing their share of the burdens of war taxation."

THE ABBEY EFFERVESCENT SALT CO.

This Company are putting forth commendable efforts in endeavoring to stir up the manufacturers on the subject of protecting their preparations from price slaughtering. We confess our opinion is that not a large measure of success will attend their efforts. We have failed to fine among Manufacturers any general desire to regulate this matter, and in the absence of such, anything like energetic action cannot be looked for. The discussion on Mr. Pieler's resolutions at the P. A. T. A. meeting brought forth nothing but the same old tune, "The retailers are not united and nothing could be done," and this in the face of the fact that the Abby people had done something. By the expenditure of properly directed efforts they have preserved the sale of their goods to the retail druggist at full prices. So well satisfied are they with results that they propose continuing their efforts, and look for aid from the retailers. Here is an opportunity for the latter to show that they appreciate a friend.

« AnteriorContinuar »