274 
Progress  in  Pharmacy. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1914. 
International  Opium  Conference.  (Editorial.) — Discusses  a  re- 
port on  the  correspondence  respecting  the  second  International 
Opium  Conference.  It  appears  that  Greece  has  refused  to  sign 
without  stating  any  reason,  while  Turkey  has  refused  to  take  any 
part  whatever  in  the  Conference.  Germany  and  Russia  were  also 
not  ready  to  ratify  the  Convention,  although  they  have  signed.  In 
spite  of  these  facts  it  is  claimed  by  the  delegates  that  matters  have 
advanced  considerably  and  that  a  long  step  has  been  taken  toward 
the  attainment  of  unanimity. — C hem.  and  Drug.,  1914,  vol.  84,  p.  458. 
Commenting  on  the  above,  Xrayser  II  (p.  491)  says:  "  The 
Opium  Convention,  like  Mahomet's  coffin,  is  suspended  between 
heaven  and  earth,  and  while  in  that  state  of  suspense  it  is  worthless 
as  an  instrument  for  any  practical  purpose.  But  while  the  Con- 
vention itself  may  fail  as  an  administrative  force,  I  hope  its  educa- 
tional value  will  not  be  lost  sight  of,  and  that  we  as  chemists  will 
do  what  we  can,  each  in  his  own  sphere,  to  limit  the  evils  which  the 
Convention  in  its  essential  features  was  intended  to  abolish.  There 
always  will  be  a  legitimate  demand  for  and  use  of  cocaine  and  mor- 
phine, and  there  will  also  probably  always  be  an  illegitimate  demand. 
If  we  conscientiously  set  ourselves  to  discourage  the  latter  by  a 
judicious  method  of  satisfying  the  legitimate  use  of  these  drugs, 
then  the  evil,  so  far  as  we  are  concerned,  will  be  as  effectually 
scotched  as  it  would  be  by  the  adoption  of  the  most  stringent  legal 
enactments." 
Drug  Addicts. — Brown,  Lucius  P.,  is  quoted  as  saying:  "  The 
anti-narcotic  law  going  into  effect  recently  is  serving  to  uncover  a 
terrible  state  of  affairs.  Already  we  have  issued  1360  permits  in  the 
State,  a  large  proportion  of  these  to  Nashville  people,  allowing 
druggists  to  sell  them  narcotics  for  habit  use.  While  one-quarter 
of  a  grain  twice  a  day  is  sufficient  for  the  non-user  of  morphine,  it 
requires  eight  grains  daily  for  the  person  with  the  habit.  Those  who 
are  on  our  books  as  having  permits  use  an  average  of  251  grains  a 
month." — Pharm.  Era,  1914,  vol.  47,  p.  233.  See  also  /.  Am.  M. 
Assoc.,  1914,  vol.  62,  p.  1427. 
Price  Maintenance.  (Editorial.) — Considerable  interest  is  being 
manifested  at  the  present  time  in  H.  R.  13305,  a  bill  introduced  by 
Representative  Stephens,  of  New  Hampshire,  which  is  entitled : 
"  A  Bill  to  Prevent  Discrimination  in  Prices  and  to  Provide  for 
Publicity  in  Prices  to  Dealers  and  to  the  Public."  This  bill  has  been 
endorsed  by  the  American  Fair  Trade  League  and  a  number  of  re- 
