Vol, ii., No. 6. 
143 
THE CHEMIST AND DRUGGIST OF AUSTRALASIA. 
AMERICAN TRADE NOTES- 
New Yobk, 5th March, 1887. 
Our drug market is still fairly active, but there are indica- 
tions that the boom in prices is over for the present, and that 
a steady market may be expected for the next few months. 
There can be no doubt that the demand in the home trade 
since the turn of the year has been quite exceptionable ; and, 
indeed, exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. 
Stocks of most staples are smaller than usual, and this, with 
temporary markets in Europe, will tell against any serious de- 
cline in prices for some time. 
The prices given below are net f.o.b., New York for 
‘Original packages, exchange on London 30 days $4.85. 
Ashes. — The stock is reduced to 260 casks of first stock. 
Black Potash.— The market rules at 4ic. (21/-). Pearl-ash is 
nnalter^ at 6^0. (29/9). 
Bromine Salts. — The manufacturers combined and raised 
the price of Bromide Potassium in 1001b. cases to 35c. (1/5J), 
Sodium to 45c. (l/10i)t and Ammonium, 47c. (1/llJ). This 
movement was expected, as no making has been carried on 
for some time. 
Balsams. — Our market for Copaiba continues very firm in 
the absence of arrivals. Maranham. — Only a few barrels left 
at 39c. (i/7J). Para had to be imported from Liverpool at 
40c. (1/7|). Tolu is in large supply, and cheaper at 30c. 
i(l/2J). Peru quite neglected at $120 (5/-). Canada stock 
nearly exhausted. The new will arrive in June. 
Casoara Sagrada Bark is higher at 7c. (3Jd.), but continues 
In active request. 
Coca Leaves are getting scarce in our market, owing to the 
interruption of the communications with Peru, the ports there 
being closed against steamers from the cholera-infected coun- 
tries south. The price of Cocaine Muriate has advanced to 
$650 (26/9), and owing to the large demand from Europe, will 
probably go higher. 
Quinine. — Our market continued very active during Feb- 
ruary, the demand was enormous, and, undoubtedly, very large 
quantities were taken by consumers and dealers all over the 
country. From 60c. (2/6f) the price in lOOoz. tins a week 
sgo, the price declined to 56c. (2/3f), which is the nominal 
-quotation to-day. This decline is said to be the result of 
speculators making very low offers from London, and some 
weak holders here forcing their stock on a market already 
fully supplied. 
Oil Peppermint has been very dull all through the month, 
‘Owing to a complete falling off in the demand from the war 
acare there. H. G. Hotchkiss is quoted $3.70 (15/3), and prime 
Wayne County in tins $3.25 (13/3). Michigan Oil can be had 
ftt$2.90 (12/-). 
Essential Oils. — Sassafras is quoted at 40c. (1/7J). Win- 
tergreen $1.85 (7/8), both in tins. Aniseed is getting dearer 
at $1.70 (7/-); Cassia firm at 60c. (2/5|). 
Roots. — Golden Seal is still scarce, and dear at 24c. (1/-). 
Senega has declined to 38c, (1/6J) for prime Western and 34c. 
(1/4|) for common chumpy quality. These are very low 
prices indeed. Serpentaria has also declined to 30c. (1/3). 
Mexican Sarsaparilla is unchanged. Jalap firm at 14c. (7d.). 
Reports from Mexico speak of little being gathered, owing to 
the low rates prevailing. 
Spermaceti is very firm at 41c. (1/8J)- 
AUSTRALIAN ARGOL. 
The note on this subject in our London journal of Feb. 19 
has attracted considerable attention. It has been reproduced 
in the South Australian Megistery and in the Ghiltern and 
Howlong Times. In the latter are added some remarks by 
Mr. H. W. Potts, as follows Curiously enough, New Zealand 
is the only colony in the group which recognises the impor- 
tance of the manufacture of tartaric acid and cream of tartar, 
in its customs tariff, by admitting argol free, and imposing a 
duty of Id. per lb. on cream of tartar and tartaric acid. This 
may be accounted for by the fact that the astute Treasurer, 
Bir Julius Vogel, is a chemist and druggist, and naturally the 
value of such an industry presented itself to him as a chemical 
product. Here is an opportunity for fostering an industry 
which would prove of incalculable benefit to the wine- 
producing districts of Victoria. Sufficient argol is being 
produced now to supply a local manufacturer of cream of 
tartar and tartaric acid to supply the colonies. 
LONDON TRADE REPORT. 
[Special Cabled Report.] 
London, April 27, 1887, 10.45 a.m. 
It should always he remembered that prices quoted in this section are m 
nearly as can be ascertained the lowest that are actually paid for bulk 
quantities in London. Considerable allowances have to be added in 
many cases before ordinary prices can be ascertained, and/or many 
drugs it must be recollected the range of quality is very wide. 
At the date of our last cabled report, CINCHONA BARK had 
experienced a decline, but makers of QUININE seemed inclined 
to disregard this, and maintain their official quotations, which 
have remained unchanged since the beginning of the year at 
the very least, viz., English, 2s. 8d. per oz. in bottles, 2s. 6d. 
in bulk. A decline of ten per cent, has now been experienced 
to 2s. 3d. for bulk, 2s. Sd. for ounce bottles. 
Ipecacuanha. — It has already been reported that this article 
had been cornered, and was virtually in the hands of one 
holder, who was steadily advancing prices. Holders of 
second-hand parcels have taken advantage of this to realise 
at advanced rates ; but no fresh supplies came forward, and 
it is now announced that the crop is a complete failure. The 
only chance of lower prices is the remote possibility that some 
South American merchant may place on the market the ac- 
cumulation of years, as happened once before. 
Insect Flowers have experienced adecline from Is. 4d. tolfl. 
2d. for Dalmatian, half way towards the price they stood at 
before the advance reported in our cablegram of Feb. 26. 
Our last advices have indicated a steady rise in the prices of 
Cod Liver Oil and Opium. The advance has now been 
checked in both lines, and prices are easier. 
London Trade Report. — Our advices of March 4 inform ui 
that, as cabled on Feb. 26, opium has made an advance of 
quite twenty per cent. [This advance continued till the date 
of our cable report of March 29.] This has naturally in- 
fluenced the price of the alkaloids and codeia and morphia 
are much dearer. The latest news from Smyrna is to the 
effect that much damage has been caused to the spring sowings 
and higher prices may be looked for. Cuhebs are again fifteen 
per cent, dearer; there is hardly any stock anywhere. Insect 
flowers are thirty-three per cent, dearer, cultivation in Dal- 
matia having been neglected. Bleaching powder is ten per 
cent, dearer owing to a combination among the producers in 
the North of England. Ipecacuanha and salicine have been 
cornered by speculators who are asking fancy prices. Carbolic 
acid is extremely scarce and in an excited condition. There 
are only one or two second hand holders ; all the manufac- 
turers are full of orders for months to come, and as the 
summer approaches we may look for a further advance. 
llotcs. 
Mr. E. G. Billing, of Hunter-street, Sydney, represent- 
ing Gaskell, Deacon and Co., the Crown Perfumery Co., 
Gibson and Co., has taken a branch office in Gladstone Cham- 
bers, 22 King-street, Melbourne. 
Fletcher and Greenwood, importers, 20 and 21 Gordon 
Buildings, 49 Flinders Lane West, have been appointed agents 
for Parson’s Grape Saline. 
Mr.J.B. Millner, of 126 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, informs u» 
that he is Australasian Agent for the firm of John Matthews, 
manufacturer of carbonated beverage apparatus. 
The Specialty Manufacturing Company, 6b Queen-street, 
Melbourne, have sent us specimens of their manufactures, 
which are now being pushed among the public, so that our 
readers may expect to be asked for them. They are Dr. Hope’s 
Liver Pills, Saphederma, an application for pimples, etc., and 
Dr, Hope’s Gout and Rheumatic Specific. They are very 
neatly and conveniently put up, and will be easy to handle. 
