Editorial

Will Price Cutting Continue Forever?-Several parties are interested in the prices at which goods are sold to the consumer. The general public feels most concerned. The retailer perhaps is next in line for consideration. The manufacturer sometimes acts as if he did not care, but we believe the careful manufacturer who studies trade conditions is much interested in the cut rate problem. Then comes the legal phase of the question which is manifested through the courts and based on the wide-spread sentiment of the hour, to control the trusts.

The now celebrated sanatogen decision has discouraged those who have made an effort to control retail prices and were interested in living profits. After this and other price control decisions, the only way a manufacturer can legally control the retail prices of the output is by making the retailer an agent with whom he agrees as to retail prices. This is an expensive and cumbersome method when applied to the drug trade in general.

Cut rate prices seem to be demanded by the public. This is evidenced by the numerous bargain sales in all of the lines of business. The consumer enjoys being led to believe that something is being gotten for nothing. The courts generally reflect public sentiment and recent decisions on price cutting are in keeping with the tendency of the times. The manufacturers realize the important position held by retailers and usually accede to their demands. From the purely selfish point of view, the manufacturer is not particularly concerned about the retail price. This has been demonstrated by individual cases where the retailer has been persistently ignored. This leaves the retail dealer somewhat alone in maintaining and defending what are generally called full prices or what the drug trade understands as schedule prices. It is frequently stated that price cutting is demoralizing and that full prices are in the interest of all parties concerned.

It is now the task of the retailer to convince the general public that the slaughtering of prices is in the end demoralizing, that, after all, the selling of goods at regular prices is to be encouraged in the public interest. Some retail druggists have the opportunity of beginning their propaganda in their own households where members of the family patronize cut rate stores in other lines of trade and carefully scan the newspapers for "prices cut in half." If the public ever becomes generally convinced that it is best to have prices maintained, then the problem is practically settled without further work. We must admit that to us the public appears a trifle obstinate and that we believe price cutting will continue for some time to come. Meantime, we urge retail druggists to do all in their power along legitimate lines to maintain reasonable prices and con

vince the public by their acts that the full priced pharmacist is the one to be depended upon for business integrity.

The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the New York State Board of Pharmacy are at outs. Some of our exchanges have devoted considerable space to the controversy and the Philadelphia College has issued a detailed statement of its position. The facts are that the New York State Board of Pharmacy has refused to recognize graduates of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy who have received the degree of doctor of pharmacy as being eligible for examination for registration in the state of New York. No one can register in that state without taking an examination and in order to be eligible the candidate must be a graduate of a recognized school of pharmacy and hold the diploma granted under prescribed and acceptable conditions. The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy has a three years' course leading up to the degree of doctor of pharmacy. The New York Board of Pharmacy recognizes the doctor of pharmacy degree only when based on a six-year course of instruction. Several other differences separate the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the New York board of pharmacy, but the doctor of pharmacy degree is the bone of contention. The Philadelphia College has appealed to its graduates and to the pharmacists of the country in general. The New York State board of pharmacy is remaining quiet in its entrenchments. At this writing, we hear rumors of proposed legislation in Pennsylvania which if secured will retaliate by refusing recognition to candidates from schools of pharmacy in the state of New York.

The question of degrees is scheduled for discussion at the Nashville meeting of the American Conference of Pharmaceutical Faculties, August 18. This will either directly or indirectly bring the New York and Philadelphia controversy into the conference.

As we have pointed out, on numerous occasions, there is a great lack of uniformity among schools in conferring degrees. The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy looks on doctor of pharmacy as a degree for pharmacists in general. A number of schools confer "pharmaceutical chemist" as the popular degree for the average pharmacist. The St. Louis College of Pharmacy adheres to its practice established fifty years ago of granting "graduate in pharmacy" to those who have had sufficient drug store experience and anticipate following pharmacy as a calling. As developed at the A. C. P. F. last year, the degree of Ph. G. has been offered by one school of pharmacy to those who complete a correspondence course in pharmacy. The New York board of pharmacy has established its own rules and regulations. It will require concessions all around and unusual magnanimity of spirit to unify the degrees conferred by the pharmaceutical educational institutions of this country.

The Hughes-Bacon Bill Misinterpreted.—A_man may live for years in a community, holding the re

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spect and esteem of all who know him. If he enters the world of politics, he will find that it is necessary to face unjust criticism and live down statements that no one would dream of making if it were not for political effect. It seems that some unaccountable turn has caused unfounded and really amusing rumors which, however, are serious inasmuch as they are likely to hurt the Hughes-Bacon Bill which is intended to better the condition of military pharmacists. The bill was commented on at length on page 162 of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for June and read as follows:

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled: That the Hospital Corps of the United States Army shall hereafter be known and designed as the Medical Corps, shall constitute the enlisted personnel of the Medical Corps now authorized by law, and shall consist of sergeants major, at seventy-five dollars per month; sergeants first class, at sixty-five dollars per month; sergeants, at thirty-six dollars per month; corporals, at twenty-four dollars per month; privates, first class, at twenty-one dollars per month; and privates, at sixteen dollars per month, with such increase for length of service and other allowances as are or may hereafter be established by law."

We just learn that someone has started the rumor that the A. Ph. A. will dictate the appointment of sergeants major for duty at supply depots if this bill becomes a law. It is contended that the A. Ph. A. will enable civilian registered pharmacists to become sergeants major and in this way seniority among the present sergeants major first class will be ignored. The claim that the A. Ph. A. will control the appointments or even suggest the candidates is not only ill founded but in direct violation of the avowed policy of the A. Ph. A. for more than half a century to keep hands off of all such matters. The A. Ph. A. partly supports every effort to better the conditions of pharmacists, no matter in what particular branch of the calling they happen to be located. It is not, however, an organization to dictate or even suggest candidates for appointment or advancement in the army.

The present regulations provide that appointment for the grade of sergeant first class and sergeant shall be made from enlisted men of the Hospital Corps after examination in certain prescribed subjects, and further provides that sergeants first class shall be promoted only after they have served a year as sergeant, or have acted as a hospital steward of volunteers during and since the Spanish War for a period of more than six months. It is reasonable to suppose that in the event of the new grade of sergeants major being provided for, a prior service as a sergeant first class would be considered as a prerequisite for appointment to that grade, and we feel it certainly would be the policy of the surgeon general that this should be done.

War and Peace Conferences.-Attendance upon a few sessions of an international peace conference is all that is necessary to convince one for the time being that we are upon the eve of universal peace, that is, as far as warfare based on the motives of mankind from the earliest times is concerned. Pharmacists may be divided on the question of disarmament, but they should be especially interested in

a form of warfare carried on through the Marine Hospital and Public Health Service which is a means of saving human lives and at the same time making possible the accomplishment of enterprises which revolutionize the commercial world. We refer to the warfare on disease caused by germ-bearing insects. Yellow fever prevented the French government from completing the Panama Canal after expending $350,000,000 in the attempt. The work of the medical officers in the War Department of this government has stamped out yellow fever in Panama and made it possible to complete the canal. While it is not necessary for physicians and other scientists to be associated with the War Department in order to carry out hygienic work, it is in keeping with the present plan of organization of the War Department.

Universal peace among mankind is a consideration which is much to be desired, but in the expression of the hope of its accomplishment, we see the fear that it will not be realized for some time to come. Meanwhile, let the medical men in the employ of governments use as much of their time and energy as can be spared from routine duties in the advancement of sanitation.

International Control of Opium Traffic.-July 1, 1913, a conference was held at The Hague to determine whether or not a sufficient number of the fortysix countries of the world will agree to the International control of opium traffic so that the great opium producing countries will feel justified in the sacrifice necessary to stamp out the illegitimate and harmful use of opium. We are unable at this writing to give the result of the conference, but trust it will be in the interest of humanity. It is

a significant fact that China, where the greatest amount of opium is consumed, is the country which has most rigidly enforced previous agreements intended to control opium traffic. The following twelve powers are a party to the agreement which was made at The Hague in 1911: America, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Siam and Persia.

The Income Tax and Associations.-Unless the income tax proposed in the tariff bill is amended, the A. Ph. A., other national pharmaceutical bodies as well as state and local associations of pharmacists, will come under the provisions of the income tax, that is, unless pharmaceutical bodies can be shown to be educational institutions, charitable organizations or religious bodies. It is now proposed to amend the bill by adding to the list of exemptions "commercial and professional organizations not organized for profit."

Pharmacists who feel interested in the subject should write at once to their senators and representatives at Washington, urging such an amendment.

NEVER criticize people; it hurts their vanity. Praise them and you make them your friends.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS

Red Phenol is a sign of purity. It is the pure phenol that is most likely to quickly turn red.

The Druggists' National Home was dedicated at Palmyra, Wis., June 10 and 11. An interesting, program and a large gathering added to the success of the occasion.

To Control the Sale of Narcotics is a world-wide movement. Some dealers at Jackson, Miss., feel as if the center of action is in that city. Two parties charged with violating the cocaine law are now standing trial.

Are You Familiar With the Poison Law?-All sets of board of pharmacy questions should test the applicant's knowledge of the laws of the state which pertain particularly to the calling of pharmacy. How many of our readers are familiar with the poison law of the state in which they do business?

Relief for the Flood Sufferers came from all sections of the country and those in the stricken district who had anything left were among the first to divide with the less fortunate. The pharmacists have been well represented in the relief work and raised considerable money for those pharmacists who severely suffered from the floods.

Do Not Buy Whiskey nor anything else from strangers. A Louisville druggist and his associates who paid cash for bonded whiskey in order to get the article at a low price found to their sorrow that the firm mentioned by the salesman has no real existence. When will pharmacists learn to purchase goods only from established firms?

The Long Leaf Yellow Pine Belt of Florida protests against the rumors that the naval stores industry is experiencing a business panic in that section of the country. The Jacksonville board of trade has issued a statement intended to correct false and erroneous rumors which are calculated to bring about a wide spread injury to the trade in general.

The Indiana Anti-Narcotic Law applies alike to physicians, veterinarians, dentists and pharmacists. It was endorsed by the better element in each calling. Once a month, the Indiana board of pharmacy receives a detailed report of all sales made by those in the State who are licensed to practice medicine, dentistry, pharmacy or as veterinarians.

The A. Ph. A. Is Broad. It invites to membership all reputable persons sufficiently interested in pharmacy to ask admission and abide by the rules and regulations of the organization. In respect to an open-door policy, the A. Ph. A. resembles the Y. W. C. A., of which a prominent member recently said, "The organization opens its doors with the hearty invitation to young women to enter, regardless of creed."-[Physicians Drug News.

No New Legislation Has South Dakota.-The pharmacists of that state congratulate themselves that undesirable legislation affecting pharmacy was killed. The South Dakota pharmacists are among

those who are willing to let well enough alone and they are not continually tinkering with the pharmacy law. They believe that a law which protects the public and gives competent pharmacists just recognition is sufficient for the present.

Friedman's Methods in presenting his so-called cure for tuberculosis excited suspicions among the conservative element in this country as soon as it was announced. Evidently, he thought that America was a better field for such promoters than his own country. While he made something of a hit for a time, still the citizens of the United States were on their guard and the majority followed advice similar to that in these columns, which was to the effect, "Wait and see."

Corrosive Sublimate Tablets in Germany are not of the ordinary shape nor can they be sold promiscuously. In an effort to prevent accidents such as frequently occur in this country, the government requires that corrosive sublimate tablets be made cylindrical in form. Each one is wrapped in a separate piece of colored paper bearing the word, "Poison," nor can the tablets be sold in ordinary containers. They must be dispensed in poison bottles which by regulation are corrugated.

The New York State Cocaine Law which went into effect, June 10, requires a careful record of all purchases and sales of cocaine in the state. A special book is manufactured for the purpose. It is not likely that the cocaine registration will be ignored to the extent that the law governing the registration of poisons is overlooked. We are pleased to state, however, that pharmacists now realize the necessity of observing the poison law and are much more careful about registration of sales than they were a few years ago.

Business Men and Children.-"You have asked about the interest for business men in the work of the Children's Bureau. Business men are like all other good citizens, interested in human welfare, but they perhaps appreciate even more keenly than do other good citizens the difference between human efficiency and human waste. As the Children's Bureau is obviously intended by the terms of its organic law to aid in lessening human waste, its work should appeal doubly to the business men of AmeriIf conditions can be improved so as to save babies' lives, we shall have improved conditions that affect the lives of all. If effective work for babies can be done by the Children's Bureau, therefore, it will have an effect upon general welfare."-[From an interview with Julia C. Lathrop of the Childrens Bureau in The Nation's Business.

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Perhaps It Will Be So, but it sounds too good to be true. W. G. Topolis in the American Journal of Pharmacy says: "This is the year nineteen hundred and thirteen. Between the years 1922 and 1932 we may expect to have established a National Board of Health, with a .chief officer in the cabinet and an organization similar to that of the army, and in which every physician and every pharmacist

will be an officer of the United States Government. These physicians, under the new order, who remain in the office awaiting the call of the sick will be comparatively few in number. The remainder will be out in the broad domain of practical hygiene, every factory, farm, field, forest, stream, mine, and what not, will then come under the watchful eye of this new army, and with all the wisdom of science, it will guard the health of the country, if anything, more jealously than it is guarded against foreign foes. Every occupational disease will be banished, every case of communicable disease will be promptly isolated."

Preserving Pharmaceuticals.-The Denver Branch of the A. Ph. A. at the April Meeting gave attention to practical questions. Compound Syrup of Hypophosphites was then taken up. The question arose as to what means would best prevent the growth of mould and fermentation. It was brought out in the discussion that the syrup formed a very suitable media for the growth of yeast and fungi and that proper protection against contamination of spores, etc., would eliminate the trouble. To this end it was suggested to keep the syrup in bottles not larger than one pint and sterilize same or rinse them with sulphuric acid and distilled water before using.

Compound Syrup of Phosphates and Deodorized Tincture of Iodine were also discussed. It was stated that experience had proven that the crystalization of Calcium Salts as well as discoloration through caramelization of the sugar in this preparation could be overcome by keeping the product in a refrigerator. Mr. Clayton suggested that a solution of Iodides might form a more agreeable and just as effective preparation as our present Decolorized Tincture.

Illinois is Always to the Front in pharmaceutical matters. The state association for thirty-five years has been the scene of animated gatherings at intervals of twelve months. The members have continuously been at the point of securing a model pharmacy law by proper amendments so that legislation can be let alone. The endless change in conditions, however, have prevented a full realization of the ambitions in this direction. Older members, like Treasurer George C. Bartells, Camp Point, who were present at the Quincy meeting in 1913, recall the changes in personnel from the early days when Secretary Merriam was flooding the state with communications, the days of C. W. Day, now a practicing physician, who was for years secretary of the board of pharmacy, and then came Frank Fleury, who filled the office and kept things moving at a rapid pace. In association work proper but with a finger on the board of pharmacy was Dr. T. H. Patterson, T. N. Jamieson, George P. Engelhard, H. H. Green, M. B. Travis, Albert E. Ebert, Oscar Oldberg, C. S. N. Hallberg, W. S. Simpson, Dr. H. Lee Hatch, Paul G. Schuh, Mr. Boyd, Mr. Culver and others who have either passed away or retired from active association work. The changes have taken place so gradually, year by year, that the association has in no way

IN BRIEF

A. Ph. A., Nashville, August 18.

Are you making use of parcels post?

Are your window displays pharmaceutical? Do you put up neat or slovenly packages? The Women's section of the A. Ph. A. is an assured success.

Do you seek opportunities for advertising your business?

Kansas has a new pharmacy law which provides for reciprocity.

Are you doing your part to make your state association a success?

Price protection now depends upon the good judgment of the retailer.

The Illinois Pharmaceutical Association is thirty four years old.

now

Even the pretzel is banished from the free lunch list in Missouri saloons.

How about your boy in pharmacy? Do you give him proper consideration?

The Mo. Ph. A. has held twenty-five out of thirtyfive meetings at summer resorts.

Many pharmacists are successful in real estate deals outside of the drug trade.

Association has

The Missouri Pharmaceutical reached the age of thirty-five years. Cellulose is now made from asparagus, which is a waste product of canning factories.

Illinois continues to make pharmaceutical legislation the paramount issue at state meetings.

State Board examination questions are published in each issue of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST.

The Texas Board of Nurse Examiners announces an advance in the requirement for registration. Traveling men now look after the entertainment at practically all of the state association meetings. Hydrogen peroxide is a favorite article for cut prices in department stores and ten-cent establishments.

Ohio, this year, broke the record for the multiplicity and freakishness of bills aimed at newspapers.

Is it your ambition to get better men in pharmacy? If so, remember your ambition when selecting apprentices.

The Chicago Drug Club has much dramatic talent and it was in evidence at the Quincy meeting of the Ill. Ph. A.

The Missouri Pharmaceutical Travelers' Association was the first organization of the kind. It is now twenty-four years old.

The ten leading pharmacists of the past have been named by the Pharmaceutical Syllabus Committee. Who is your favorite, and why?

Avoid conflict between Federal and State food and drug laws. This can be done by having such laws conform to the national regulation.

A set of weighing scales answer the purpose of

keeping people contented while they are waiting for prescriptions to be compounded. So says an exchange.

A number of druggists made the trip from Chicago to the Quincy meeting of the Ill. Ph. A. in autos. With better roads such trips will become more frequent.

Only qualified pharmacists can own stores in Quebec. It has been contended in the United States that a law requiring the proprietor of a drug store to be a registered pharmacist would be declared unconstitutional.

PURLEY PERSONAL

M. I. Wilbert, Washington, D. C., whose serious illness was reported recently, is now at work.

Wilhelm Bodeman will long remember his sixtyeighth birthday, which was recently celebrated by the Chicago V. D. A.

Professor O. A. Wall has been elected an honorary member of the Chicago V. D. A., to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Enno Sander.

Women in pharmacy have local associations and sections of national organizations. They are given many opportunities of voting in pharmacy.

The Woman's Section of the A. Ph. A., provided for the Denver meeting, is being developed and will be in working order at Nashville, August 18. F. A. Upsher Smith is the new editor of the Northwestern Druggist, Minneapolis, Minn. He is experienced in pharmaceutical affairs and interested in his work.

Charles Gietner, St. Louis, has been a member of the Missouri Board of Pharmacy under several administrations. Governor Major has reappointed Mr. Gietner to serve another term, which expires in 1914.

Edwin G. Cox, Craig, the new member of the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, was initiated at the examination held at Pertle Springs, June 9 and 10. He has taken hold of the work in earnest and promises that henceforth he will regularly attend the Mo. Ph. A. Conventions.

Dr. James H. Beal, editor of the Journal of the A. Ph. A., and in many ways prominent in pharmacy, received the honorary degree of master of pharmacy from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy recently. Similar honors were conferred upon Professor Henry Kraemer, Professor S. P. Sadtler, Dr. F. B. Power and Joseph W. England.