JEREMIAH JOSEPH MURPHY.

Jeremiah Joseph Murphy, President, Missouri Pharmaceutical Travelers' Association, was represented on the cover of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for March. He says, "Meet me at Pertle Springs, the week of June 15."

You cannot Sell Goods unless you have them, so watch your order book.

The Clean-up and Paint-up campaign should be as continuous as the safety first propaganda.

Spring Trade is bright and enthusing. Up-to-date pharmacists enter into the spirit of the times.

A Little Paint judiciously applied pleases the eye, preserves structures and adds to the comforts of life.

Board Secretaries, Page 116.
Market Review, Page 122.

Index to Advertisements, Page 32.

Want Advertisement Department, Page 31.
Missouri Reciprocity, Page 119.

Board of Pharmacy Examination Questions, Page 113.

Editorial

Conference on the Harrison Law.-A get-together meeting in Chicago consisted of representatives of the retail drug trade, the officers of the state of Illinois, of the city of Chicago and representatives of the United States Internal Revenue Department. There were also present newspaper editors, hospital physicains, members of the Chicago Medical Society and representatives of the marine hospital service. A general discussion ensued which resulted in a better understanding of the intent and purpose of the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Law, the methods of its enforcement and the result as far as drug habituates are concerned.

Similar conferences should be held not only in all of the large cities of the United States, but in the smaller cities, the towns and various communities. These conferences should always receive the hearty support and, if necessary, result from the initiative of pharmacists. There is an unjust but rather general feeling that pharmacists are in a way responsible for the number of drug fiends. The new law is largely the result of the work of the drug trade, which has obligated itself to assume additional expense and responsibilities and to perform new work in order to help the world-wide movement to reduce the amount of narcotics used by habituates. Pharmacy has an opportunity here which should not be lost to place the calling in a proper position before the general public. The new condition of affairs resulting from the enforcement of this law will bring in closer relationship the medical and pharmaceutical callings. It will acquaint the internal revenue department with the professional side of pharmacy. The reformers in social work will have occasion to see and understand the pharmacist as something more than a mere tradesman.

The hospitals of various kinds are assuming the burden of caring for the afflicted drug fiends and helping them to discard the habit. The medical profession is just beginning to awaken to the great responsibility it has in deciding who is and who is not entitled to receive narcotics. The American Medical Association and local organizations generally are grasping the situation, but it will require time and experience to bring home in a forcible manner to the medical practitioners of this country the fact that the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Law will draw a sharp line of demarcation between the sheep and the goats in medicine. The law means publicity for all transactions in narcotics from the importation on manufacture to the consumption by the individual. The physician who prescribes or dispenses narcotics merely for the sake of the fee he receives will be sharply separated from the conscientious professional prescriber. We will not be surprised to see

medical societies adopting new rules of professional conduct in order to cover this point.

With the pharmacist less moral responsibility is imposed. The pharmacist is expected to follow the plain letter of the law and he is given but little opportunity to exercise professional judgment or moral understanding. The Internal Revenue Department will corral and take care of the "goats" in pharmacy. Meantime, let the pharmacists of this country give publicity to the fact that they are in hearty accord with the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Law and cheerfully pay the internal revenue fees and willingly perform the additional work which the law brings to the long days of the average pharmacist.

The Harrison Anti-Narcotic Law has now been in force for a month. When the purpose of the law became generally understood it at once received the hearty support of the medical and pharmaceutical professions. The physicians were not quite as quick to understand the situation as were the pharmacists and, in a few instances, local medical organizations criticized the law in a way which reflected on the the members and exposed their ignorance of the subject. The American Medical Association, however, through its official organ, set forth in unmistakable language the laudable purpose of the law and pointed out that compliance with the same was in strict accord with the history of the medical profession and the work of the practitioner in the interest of human welfare.

Many pharmacists were at first much worried about details, but the internal revenue department has been exceedingly fair and reasonable in its rulings on technical and doubtful points. Still more time will be required to work out the plans which are required in order to avoid unnecessary friction.

Local organizations of pharmacists and more than forty A. Ph. A. Branches throughout the country have freely discussed the law and disseminated as much information as possible among both physicians and pharmacists. The enterprising retailers as well as manufacturers have issued phamphlets explaining the law and its regulations. The pharmaceutical press has and is still giving much space to the subject.

Any pharmacists who have neglected to fully post themselves as to the provisions of the law are running a grave risk of fines which may amount to $2000.00 or imprisonment, not to exceed five years.

Four Thousand Tons of Concentrated Sulphuric Acid Cause Trouble.-Following the outbreak of the European War came a demand for the exportation of sulphuric acid from the United States. The manufacurers here were equal to the occasion as far as production was concerned, but the question of delivery was quite a different problem. Never before had the transatlantic ship companies been called upon to carry cargoes of concentrated sulphuric acid amounting to four thousand tons or more. The manufacturers of iron drums or barrels for such a trip were not turning out containers which would stand the journey. One ship-load with 7400 steel

sank It is

drums containing about 2800 tons of sulphuric acid managed to get about half way across the ocean before it was discovered that the acid was leaking out of the drums and serious consequences might follow. A sailor who investigated was overcome with gas, as was the man who went to find him. The captain made for St. John's N. F., the nearest port. The cargo was repacked and a second start made. When out twenty-four hours, the drums again leaked and the captain returned to St. John's. The ship then took fire, probably from the formation and escape of hydrogen gas. Finally, the ship and while under water explosions occurred. probable that the entire cargo is a total loss. Owing to the excessive rates of insurance and transportation charge for carrying sulphuric acid, some shippers have decided that it is cheaper to purchase the boats outright rather than pay the freight rate. If the demand continues, it is only a question of a short time when manufacturers will secure adequate containers and learn just how to pack a cargo in order to ensure safe delivery. There are no insurmountable difficulties connected with the shipping of large cargoes of sulphuric acid.

Do Not Complicate Anti-Narcotic Laws.--Pharmacists are very naturally concerned in state legislation intended to control the handling of narcotics. They should see to it that all bills introduced in state legislatures conform as closely as possible to the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Internal Revenue measure. The national enactment makes liberal provision for government co-operation with state authorities. The enactment of proper laws throughout the several states of the country will place in operation a force of state and government officials who by co-operation test out to a conclusion the feasibility of legislation in restriction to the use of narcotics. Remember that only a small proportion of the opium and coca imported by the United States has been of late years required in the legitimate practice of medicine. The far greater proportion has been consumed by the drug fiends.

Limit the Number of Drug Stores. At the 1914 meeting of the Mo. Ph. A., A. N. Doerschuk, of Kansas City, Mo., suggested the feasibility of limiting the number of drug stores to some special ratio of population. Legal counsel has approved of the plan as being well within the constitutional rights of the legislature. It is believed by the advocates of this plan that it will prevent the starting up of mushroom drug stores, opened for the purpose of selling liquor. We will be pleased to have the readers of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST discuss this question.

The A. Ph. A. will meet at San Francisco, August 9-14, 1915.

For Practical Purposes, the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST fills the want not supplied by any other pharmaceutical journal coming to our office.-[W. L. Dewoody, Pine Bluff, Ark.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS

In the Days of Leeches.-About 1830, Paris alone used 52,000,000 leeches annually.

The Good Name of Pharmacy can be made still better by strict observance of the spirit and the letter of the Harrison Anti-Narcotic Law.

The War Not to Blame.-The secretary of a state pharmaceutical association apologizes for the lateness of the annual report but says that his excuses are in no way connected with the European or Mexican turmoil.

An Exceptional Experience.-The Arbuthnot Drug Co., of Belleville, Kan., reports that the pharmacists of that city, now have a little time to themselves and for their families. They are closing every night during the week except Saturday, at 8 p. m.

Early Closing. Wherever the experiment of early closing has been made, the druggists agree that the result is satisfactory. When the agreements are broken and the plans discarded it is due to some personal misunderstanding and no fault of the general principle of early closing.

The Resumption of Business Activity and Improvement of conditions which began as soon as the country could readjust itself after the outbreak of the war in Europe is continuing steadily, according to the Federal Trade Committee which has been studying conditions throughout the United States.

Why Not Write Prescriptions in English?—A correspondent of The Medical Fortnightly prefers Latin when writing prescriptions because "this bears the stamp of intercommunity, simplicity and internationality and is of importance when medical writings are read by foreigners or translated into other languages."

Oxalic Acid in Epsom Salts.-A retail drug firm in London was recently charged with having sold a package of Epsom Salts containing oxalic acid. The suit developed the facts that the evidence was only circumstantial and the defendant won the case. There is a general feeling that pharmacists as well as big corporations should have the benefit of the doubt.

The Panama Canal has been open for ordinary business since August 15, 1914. Drugs, thus far, have not entered very largely into the business carried on by transcontinental enterprise. The movement is largely from the east to the west. The cargoes are principally of manufactured goods intended for South America, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan.

Photographs of Candidates for Examination.-The California Board of Pharmacy will take no further chances on being imposed upon by fraudulent candidates for examination. It is now necessary for each candidate to have two photographs. One is to be sent direct to the secretary of the board and the other brought with the applicant to the examination. The two photographs and the candidate must all three agree in general appearance.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS

Veterinary Surgeons with dirty hands should be watched. A new scheme to steal narcotics is being worked by persons claiming to be veterinary surgeons and asking permission to wash their hands. This is an excuse to reach the poison case and steal whatever they can.

Soap Market in South America.-Soap Manufacturers in the United States may look to South America as a limited but growing market for fine toilet soaps, most of which are now purchased from Europe. Laundry soap is generally supplied by native makers at such low prices as almost to prohibit foreign competition.

Vanillin. The market for Cloves is very firm, while the other raw materials required for the manufacture of Vanillin have advanced enormously. European buyers are looking to American manufacturers for their supplies and it would seem advisable, therefore, for American consumers to keep fully cov ered for their requirements.

Galangal is cultivated in China and exported for the use of Chinese in other sections of the world. It is claimed that the United States has, during the past few years, taken an unusually large share of this drug. It does not seem to pass through the hands of the regular whole sale drug trade and the retail pharmacist has little or no demand for it.

Palm Kernel Oil.-This product is finding steady extension both for technica! use and table purposes. The war has caused England to develop new uses for palm kernel oil among prepared table products. At one time, Germany practically controlled the market. It is probable that an effort will now be made to produce palm kernel oil on a commercial scale in this country.

Phenolphthalein.-Phenol is practically out of the market with an excessive price ruling for such quantities as are available. Phthalic Acid is under an embargo by both Germany and Austria, and, consequently, none will be available after present stocks are exhausted, until there is a change in the existing conditions. These conditions, coupled with an enormous demand, has driven the price of phenolphthalein to extremely high figures.

Favors the Druggist.-The California Appellate Court has decided that "ant paste", and other like arsenical poisons cannot be sold by retail grocers or anybody but registered druggists. The manufacturers of ant paste claim their product is a sealed package, and can be sold by grocers as freely as patent medicines. They will carry the matter to the Supreme Court. The druggists all over the country are endeavoring to restrict the grocers in the sale of medicines and other drug store goods as much as possible, while at the same time they are adding some grocery products, their principal sales, no dcubt, being on Sunday when the grocery stores are closed. [Grocers' Magazine.

Do You Sign Papers for Strangers?-W. S. Denton, of Beardstown, Ill., in an address before the Ill. Ph. A. said: "Never sign a paper for a stranger, nor take chances with another man's game. Never fail to read a paper carefully before signing your name to it. If you do not thoroughly understand it, ask your Let attorney. Do not boast about your business. your friends do that for you. Never advertise a competitor's goods by running them down. Never disappoint an old customer in the time of the delivery of goods for the sake of obliging a new one. Never go

cn another man's note or bond unless you expect to ray it. You may have to if you do. Don't take stock, in every so-called Chemical Company who have just decided, as a special favor to you, to let you in on their deal."

Do People Look in Your Window?-G. E. Hoffman, Peoria, Ill., was curious to find out whether any one noticed his window displays. He took an ordinary silver dollar and laid it on a small piece black velvet, placing above it the following sign:

SILVER DOLLAR
Coined by

The United States Government in 1884.

HAVE YOU GOT ONE?

The telephone company advised him to put in an additional phone in order to handle his inquiries. People dropped in to inquire about that dollar. Mr. Hoffman details his experience in The Pharmaceutical Era and says that he explained to his customers that he was merely trying to prove or disprove the commercial value of his show windows and the dollar was worth just 100 cents.

Government's work for Properly Labeled Drugs and Better Food. The false and fraudulent labeling of medicines and mineral waters has recently received a great deal of attention from the Bureau of Chemistry, according to the Bureau's report for the year ending June 30, 1914. A large number of instances have been found in which impossible claims for the preparations in question have been made and in these cases steps have been taken to compel the owners to alter the labels. This is true of a large number of veterinary medicines and in particular of (so-called) cures for hog cholera. As for mineral waters, the position long held by the Bureau, that so-called lithia water must contain enough lithia to produce an appreciable therapeutic effect, has now been sustained by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, and in consequence action has been taken to enforce this ruling. Measures are being taken to prevent the exploitation of so-called radio-active waters in which the amount of radium is negligible. Furthermore, mineral waters to which has been added carbonic acid gas or mineral salt, are not any more, sold as "natural," but are properly labeled.