Meyer Brothers Druggist

PUBLISHED MONTHLY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE ENTIRE DRUG TRADE.

ST. LOUIS, JUNE, 1908.

Editorial

Drug Clerks and Pharmaceutical Journals.—It is not necessary for an Editor to be very old in the duties of his office to remember the time when the drug clerks of this country made a great hue and cry about the necessity for official organs and the opportunity to exercise supervision over a portion of the Pharmaceutical Press. The earnest conviction was so strong and so general that the Drug Clerks Journal came to light with a special mission and a new gospel. About the same time other aspirants for drug clerks favor made their appearance. It is scarcely necessary to call attention to the result, as the short lives speak more plainly than words in announcing that room does not exist for publications devoted wholly to the interest of the drug clerks.

and always among the foremost in advancing improvements to better the conditions of the communities in which they live. The person who is not proud of his town or city is not worthy of citizenship. This pride, however, should go beyond mere sentiment. It should bring the broad minded class of thinking pharmacists to action; and where civic organizations are lacking, the pharmacists are the ones to see that the public spirited in communities are brought together in harmonious work for the purpose of making their town or city more healthy, more beautiful, more convenient, and more attractive to law abiding citizens.

It is not to be expected that the average pharmacist can materially influence such movements as a conserving our natural resources, for such a movement requires an executive, as the president of the United State, who recently called together the governors of the various states in order to devise ways and means for the control of the output of our forests, our hard coal fields, and the oil and petroleum regions. The druggist, however, can see to it that the public spirited in his community are called in conference to make sure that alleys aud by-ways are kept clean, mosquito breeding ponds filled up in order to prevent the spread of malaria, noxious weeds destroyed, residence property beautified, fences and side-walks kept in repair, and streets properly paved.

We will be glad to hear from readers of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, who have taken an interest in local civic affairs. Our columns are open for the discussion of the subject, and we are anxious to have our correspondents point out what can be done by re

The reason is almost self-evident and is found in the pages of the Pharmaceutical Journals of this country. The Pharmaceutical Press has, and we believe always will cater to the drug clerks fully as much as to the proprietor, the jobber, the manufacturer or the importer. The drug clerks constitute the fountain from which issues the proprietor, the salesman, the jobber and the manufacturer. It is but natural that the Phar maceutical Press should look carefully after the interest of the clerks. In fact, we have always found that the clerks interests are practically identical with those of the proprietor. By that we mean that an upto-date clerk works in perfect harmony with the up-to-tail druggists to make their communities more desiradate proprietor. The drug clerk who does not feel that his interests are parallel with those of the proprietor, is the one who is usually seeking a new situation. A proprietor who does not place his interests in common with those of the clerk is always looking for new help. The store that prospers is the one which retains its clerks for long terms of service, and the clerks who have the best situations are the ones who are not obliged to constantly look for a new place.

We believe that our Exchanges will agree with the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST in the assertion that the subscription list of Pharmaceutical Journals consist largely of names of drug clerks, and that many of the most valued contributions for publication come from those who hold positions as clerks.

The lack of support given those Periodicals intended especially for drug clerks does not argue any lack of interest in the Pharmaceutical Press on the part of the clerks, but simply shows that the Pharmaceutical Press as now constituted serves to the best possible advantages the interests of the drug clerks.

Do You Have Civic Pride?—Pharmacists are looked upon by the average citizen as a class of educated people who take a broad view of affairs in general, outside of the narrow confines of their calling. In order to make good this confidence imposed in them, it is necessary for pharmacists to be public spirited,

ble residence sections of the country.

The Organoleptic Tests for Olive Oil have been used by the port officials to determine between two classes of olive oil recognized by the laws governing the duty upon that article. The tariff of 1897 provided for a duty-free import of olive oil intended for technical purposes and not valued at more than sixty cents per gallon at the foreign port. On the other hand, the tariff imposed a duty of forty per cent on olive oil intended for culinary purposes. This opened the way for numerous disputes. It was discovered by the port officials that oil, of rather a low grade, was considered good enough for consumption by a certain class of poor people and the official tasters who depended upon their sense of taste to determine the class in which the sample of oil belonged began to consider as dutiable oils that would not tickle the

palate of patrons of a first-class restaurant. Further ton have taken a liberal view of the situation. They cases were appealed and the authorities at Washingseem to depend more upon the spirit than the letter of the law and have ruled that cheap oils imported in barrels and not suitable for ordinary use as food shall be entered duty-free. If the dealers subsequently find a market for such oils among the poorer classes, very well and good. That is due to the taste of the consumers rather than to the class in which the oil be

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longs. The demand for olive oil, as a food, is still increasing and we are pleased to note that the drug trade insists upon handling only the highest grade of oil when catering to the public taste.

Revision of the Advertising Rates of the MEYER Brothers DRUGGIST has been made and goes into effect July 1, 1908. An advance occurs in order to bring the price up to the minimum standard for a pharmaceutical journal with the influence, subscription list and power to bring results possessed by the the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST. The journal was established over twenty-eight years ago, and has progressively improved each year since that beginning. We feel that the new schedule, soon in force, is but a matter of justice to our advertisers, to this publication and to our exchanges.

Of course, we shall strictly maintain the rule which has prevailed since the first issue, of having one single schedule in force, and that a fixed one. The MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST has never countenanced a sliding schedule which places one advertiser at a disad. vantage, compared with another. The strictly one price policy has been a feature of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST, impressed upon it by its founder, the late Mr. C. F. G. Meyer, and we have found the practice to work in a manner satisfactory alike to both publisher and advertiser.

similar plan was adopted, but the rule has been gradually worn away until at the present time the entertainment is met almost entirely by the local drug fraternity. It was at the Denver meeting that the A. Ph. A. adopted a resolution against a general canvass of the drug trade in order to raise funds to defray the entertainment feature of an annual meeting.

Mistaken Ideas as to the intent and purpose of the Pure Food and Drugs Law persist in spite of the educational efforts of the press. The law does not prohibit the manufacture or the sale of adulterated foods or medicines. It, however, specifies that such goods must be labeled in strict accord with their character. It prevents the manufacturer or the dealer from misrepresenting the quality of the articles which he handles. As we have on previous occasions stated, it is a law to enforce truthful labels. It seems to be advisable to again state that the law in no way provides for government guarantees in regard to the purity of goods or the truthfulness of the label. It is the manufacturer who files with the government his guaranty, and he alone is responsible.

Synthetic Medicines have a hold upon the medical profession which is only too well realized by the pharmacists who must carry in stock shelf after shelf full of these medical compounds. The pharmacists of England are now considering the revision of the British pharmacopoeia, and some of the more progressive urge that quite a list of synthetic remedies be made official. One English writer says that in con

Europe the revisors of the pharmacopoeia have shown "indecent haste" in giving pharmaceutical sanction to synthetics. The English, it seems, have been lamentably slow in this matter, while the United States tries a medium pace, and makes official synthetics when they are well established among the leading practitioners.

The Pacific Pharmaceutical Association Proposed in 1905 did not reach even the infantile period of existence. The plan was to include the states on the Pacific coast and some of the adjacent territory.tinental While enthusiasm was strong in the beginning, it gradually died out and the plan failed. It is now about twenty years since Missouri proposed an interstate druggists' league in which the surrounding states were expected to participate. One meeting was the result and this was poorly attended. It seems difficult to organize the retail pharmacists in associations of this kind. A prosperous state society covers about as much territory as can be successfully handled. Of course, the A. Ph. A. and N. A. R. D. are in a sense interstate, but their purpose and plan is quite different from the objects of unions of adjacent state associations.

It is not our purpose to in any way discourage those who now believe in interstate organizations or may hereafter undertake such work, even though it does not succeed, for we feel that every effort in this direction brings some good results and causes local phar

macists to take more interest in their state association.

The Entertainment Feature Limit Reached.-The N. A. R. D. executive committee has decided that it is best to tone down the volume of entertainment at the annual meetings and avoid the wholesale canvass of allied interests for contributions to an entertainment fund. It is reported that the Atlantic City meeting, next September, will be a pay-as-you-go affair, or what is known as a "Dutch treat." When the A. Ph. A. met at Old Point Comfort in 1890, a

The Patent Laws as they effect the drug trade in this country are anything but satisfactory. Efforts have been made for some years past to bring about a more just condition of affairs in this regard. It is likely that the present congress will pass a bill which will place the citizens of the United States on an even footing with those of foreign countries in their rights relating to the manufacture and sale of patented medicinal substances. When this time comes, foreign manufacturers can no longer obtain privileges in this country such as have caused no end of trouble, expense and bad blood in the drug trade of the United

States.

The Pure Food and Drug Commission is now after bitters, and declares that the ordinary bitters sold under the guise of a medicinal preparation, but really for use as an intoxicating or alcoholic beverage, must be labeled as to the content of alcohol. This news is not of particular interest to pharmacists doing business where prohibitionists are unknown, but it looks as if such sections of the country will soon be few and far between.

STRAY ITEMS AND COMMENTS.

Two Women were among the graduates of the Albany College of Pharmacy this year.

information that the machine will lessen the price of large panes of window glass.

Let Us Hear From Other Dry Drug Stores.-J. W. Layton, of Potomac, Ill., informs N. A. R. D. Notes that he runs an absolutely dry drug store, not having

Window Dressing Hints are given on page 117 of bought an ounce of booze for at least ten years. The the MEYER Brothers DRUGGIST for April.

A Pure Paint Bill is now before the Ohio Legislature. It provides for honest labels, and we understand has a fair show to become a law.

The Missouri Pharmacy Laws revised to November | 1, 1906, were printed on page 423 of the MEYER BROTHERS DRUGGIST for December, 1906. The laws have not been amended since that date.

The Red Cross as a Trade Mark or name is owned by the Red Cross Association, with headquarters at Washington, D. C. The rights of this organization are protected by special legislation.

Even the Name is Attractive. It seems that in prohibition districts the mania for anything bearing the name "beer" is large, and soda dispensers are increasing their lines of soft drinks that can be called beers.

"Stationery as a Side Line," is the subject of a recent article in the pharmaceutical press. In country places stationery is looked upon as a part and parcel of the retail drug trade, although it may be a side line in some of the city stores.

Ebert Park. The Chicago Veteran Druggists' Association has appointed a committee to confer with the city officials and, if possible, arrange to have one of the smaller parks of the city named in memory of the late Albert Ethelbert Ebert.

The N. A. R. D. realizes the danger of saloon drug stores following in the wake of a prohibition wave and the executive committee at its recent meeting adopted strong resolutions condemning any tendency on the part of the drug trade to wink at such practices.

The American Medico-Pharmaceutical League of New York City celebrated the eleventh annual meeting the week of May 25. This is good evidence of the manner in which the pharmacists and physicians of Greater New York work together in peace and harmony.

Lemons Help Along the U. S. P. and N. F. Propaganda.—The Brooklyn College of Pharmacy gave a package party recently at which Dr. William C. Anderson was auctioneer. One of the spirited and reckless bidders found, upon opening his package, that it contained thirteen lemons.

Window Glass Made by a Machine.-The Scientific American describes the invention of Irving W. Colburn, of Franklin, Pa. Pharmacists who handle window glass and those who have had experience with broken show window glass will appreciate the

prohibition or local option question does not trouble
who have tried the experiment.
him. We will be glad to hear from other druggists

Be Careful how you attend a champagne banquet in parties who took part in such an event at Asheville, a prohibition state. The grand jury has indicted the pharmacy which sold the champagne on a physician's N. C. They have also indicted the proprietor of the prescription, nor did the doctor who wrote the prescription escape the grand jury.

U. S. P. and N. F. Physicians' Manual by the thousands are being distributed among the physicians of Greater New York. The Allied Pharmaceutical Orplaced the first installment of 3,500 copies. Homeoganizations of Manhattan and the Bronx have just paths and osteopaths were about the only classes of physicians who were overlooked.

Medical Emergencies.-The National Volunteer Emergency Service, organized in 1900, has recently Evelyn Pilcher, of Carlisle, Pa., is the new director been given new life by re-organization. Dr. James general to whom communications for further information should be addressed. The general object of the service is to be prepared for emergencies of peace and

war.

Must be Doing an Immense Drug Business.—An item is going the round of our exchanges to the effect that a lunch counter as a side line to the soda water line to the drug business netted a Chicago druggist department which in itself is looked upon as a side $20,000.00 in 1907. If this side line to a side line brought that sum of money, what must have been the net proceeds from the main business of the drug store itself?

Ebert Day.-November 27, 1907, being the first anniby appropriate exercises in the Pharmacy Department versary of the death of Albert E. Ebert, was observed of the University of Minnesota, under the direction of Dean Frederick J. Wulling. The portrait of Mr. Ebert presented to the college by the board of trustees of the U. S. P. C. is now hanging in a very con. spicuous place in the college building.

A. E. Ebert.-The California College of Pharmacy presented by the U. S. P. trustees. In honor of the has received the portrait of the late Dr. Albert Ebert, event, the directors, faculty and students were assembled in the lecture hall of the college and attention was called to the life and labors of Mr. Ebert by Professors A. Schneider and W. M. Searby, to whom he was well known.-[Pacific Pharmacist.

The American Medical Association will have fin