QUALITY AND PURITY OF VEGETABLE DRUGS 39 



drug stores. Stoves, hot air furnaces, steam and hot water plants 

 will serve the purpose. A dwarfed wood stove back of the prescription 

 counter, in which an occasional paper box, newspaper, wrapping paper 

 or small pieces of pine boxes are burnt, will not answer the purpose. 

 The store needs a heating device which is kept in operation every day 

 not only during the winter months but also during moist and rainy 

 weather throughout the year. Keep the drug store dry and the mold 

 will not appear. Moldy drugs are unfit for use. 



2. Insect Parasites. The persistent and general presence of insect 

 pests (weevils) simply indicates that things are not just right. The 

 building may be old and rotten or the containers may be old. Any- 

 way, the containers need cleaning, scalding, drying out, etc. Not 

 only must the weevils and their larvae be destroyed, but their eggs 

 as well. There should be no cracks in floor, in walls, partitions. Per- 

 haps the walls need a coat of calsomine or new paper and the woodwork 

 a new coat of paint or varnish. Never place a drug in any container 

 until there is absolute certainty that all insect pests, including larvae 

 and eggs, which may be present, are destroyed. To place a fresh 

 drug in a container which held an infested drug, without first cleaning 

 it as suggested, simply results in the immediate infection and destruc- 

 tion of the new supply. 



3. Old Drugs. The rate of deterioration of crude and powdered 

 vegetable drugs varies but it may be stated as a general rule that 

 crude and powdered vegetable drugs, as well as all preparations made 

 therefrom, are wholly unfit for use at the end of three years. Old 

 materials of this kind should be destroyed, even though they may have 

 been of prime quality originally. Retailers should not secure more 

 drugs and make more preparations than they can use within a reason- 

 able time, say on an average in one year. Many substances used 

 medicinally will of course keep for a much longer period, as chemicals 

 generally; but no means have yet been found to prevent the never- 

 ceasing gradual deterioration of vegetable drugs and their preparations. 

 Never purchase an old store stock, no matter how low the price asked. 

 Secure a fresh stock and start in right. 



4. Guaranties. As already stated the federal guarantee state- 

 ments were discontinued May 1, 1916. It is, however, likely that 

 manufacturers, importers and dealers will continue to furnish their 

 own guarantees. A wise rule for the retail pharmacist to follow 

 is not to accept any guarantees on faith; for, guaranties are not 

 necessarily evidence that the articles are pure or up to standard, but 

 every retail dealer should see to it that every guaranteeable article 

 which he purchases is guaranteed, as this shifts the legal responsibility 



