DRUG SALES 



Most foreign drug growers or drug merchants have no offices in 

 London in which to sell their goods ; they therefore effect this through 

 a drug broker as intermediary. In and around Mincing Lane a 

 number of firms conduct the business of selling on commission not 

 only drugs but also a great variety of other produce. To one of 

 these the foreign drug merchant consigns his goods, advising the 

 firm of their dispatch. On their arrival in London the broker procures 

 samples from the various packages and exhibits these at intervals 

 on counters in his office. This exhibition constitutes what is known 

 as a ' drug show ' and is 

 held normally on alternate 

 Wednesdays. The show is 

 attended by representatives 

 of such drug merchants as 

 desire to purchase, who note 

 the parcels they wish to buy 

 and the price they are pre- 

 pared to give. On the day 

 following the show the goods 

 are sold by auction and this 

 constitutes a * drug sale.' 



Sometimes the broker sells 

 direct to a customer at a price 

 previously agreed upon ; this 

 is sale by private treaty. 

 Not unfrequently the drug 

 producer sells his produce to 

 an agent in the same district 

 or country, who, in his turn, 

 deals direct with the drug 

 merchant in London ; such 

 purchases are then shipped 

 direct to the purchaser. 



Although most drugs are 



sold by sample, in a number of instances the original packages 

 are exhibited so as to allow of the inspection of the contents. 

 These are shown in a well-lighted, lofty top-floor of the Cutler 

 Street warehouse of the Port of London Authority, and also at 

 the warehouses of the London and other docks, &c. Original 

 packages of the following drugs are usually shown : aloes (excepting 

 Cape aloes), benzoin, dragon's blood, elemi, gamboge, guaiacum 

 resin, ipecacuanha, myrrh, sarsaparilla, scammony gum-resin, jalap, 

 rhubarb, musk, castor, balsam of tolu, vanilla, &c. Other floors 

 in the same warehouse serve for the storage of a variety of drugs 

 pending their sale or removal ; among these the following may be 

 noted ; aloes, aniseed, areca nuts, alkanet root, buchu leaves, calumba 



FIG. 6. Vase of otto of rose. 



