GOST OF DRUGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 5

GOST OF DRUGS

MANUFACTURE RESTRICTED INCREASING DIFFICULTY IN AIEETING DEMAND. From the latest advice received from London it appears that certain drugs in general and increasing demand are becoming harder and harder to procure. This is especially the case with asperin, which has advanced considerably in price, but the London chemists are unable to cope with the demand. Soon after the commencement of the war the American manufacturers saw their opportunity to secure a firmer footing in supplying drugs that were formerly procured tram the Continent' fc>f Europe, and consequently the wholesale manufacturing chemists doubled—and in some instances trebled —their output, but still the demand has not been met. Large repeat orders were forwarded to America, with the result that the market has been depleted of asperin, and the cost of this drug will probably yet reach a much higher figure. EPSOAI SALTS. 'Antipyrin, which was formerly purchased on the Continent, is another drug that has advanced in price, and at the present time there is none offering on tho London market. The almost universal household medicine, Epsom salts, is likely to rise considerably’ in price, as well as Glauber salts. This .will chieflv be brought about by the action of the British Government in commandeering several of the sulphuric acid works. The salts referred to are by-products from these works, and as they are being put to other uses by the Government authorities the demand will not be kept pace with in tho near future. COD-LIVER OIL. Tho cod-fishing season opened promisingly, and some fine catches were reported. Later the catches continued to bo of ,a satisfactory nature, but it was discovered that tho livers of the fish were very thin, and consequently tho production of oil fell in proportion. There was a heavy demand for the oil in Norway, and prices rose above normal. Tho factor that was the main cause for this was the heavy operations on the market by Germany, the oil being required for the manufacture of glycerine, which is wanted for the manufacture of explosivesGLYCERINE. During the last few days there have been some fairly heavy purchases of glycerine on the local market in anticipation of a further rise in price. Now that Australia has decided to manufacture munitions of war a rise in the price of glycerine may he expected, but to what extent cannot at present he foreshadowed. Generally, there is a decided tendency for the price of drugs to advance still higher, mainly on account of the. difficulty of production, hut there is another fact that plays an important part, and that is the scarcity of qualified chemists. Since the commencement of the war a large number of chemists have relinquished their employment with the manufacturers, and are at present engaged in more important work elsewhere.