202 
ORGANIZATION OF PHARMACY IN NORWAY. 
drugs; and secures to the apothecary a profit of one hundred 
and twenty-eight and four-sevenths per cent. This profit is 
not too great, if it be recollected, that in Norway the naviga- 
tion is interrupted during eight months of the year, and that 
then the apothecary is forced to have all the substances which 
in other countries are bought ready prepared by the chemical 
manufacturer. The law states expressly that chemical sub- 
stances, salts for example, must be prepared by the apotheca- 
ry, which affords a guarantee to the buyer, and also contri- 
butes to the instruction of the pupils. It is true, neverthe- 
less that the apothecaries of Norway, have commenced to 
procure their products ready made from Hamburgh, or the 
manufactory of Schohenbeck, near Magdebourg. The govern- 
ment itself has produced this result, by taking as the basis 
of prices, the price current of Hamburgh ; which prevents 
the apothecary himself from manufacturing, as he could not 
compete with the manufacturers' prices. It was in 1813, that 
the profit of the apothecary was fixed at the sum stated above. 
To establish it, the charges which weigh upon the apothecary 
are taken, the estimation of which appears to us so curious, 
that it is proper to report it. Rent and utensils 6,000; main- 
tainance, 1,000; three pupils, 2,000; wages of workmen and 
boys, &c, 4,500; lights and fuel, 1,000; loss on merchandize 
600; taxes, 1,000; expenses of the apothecary, 6,000: pur- 
chase of medicines, 17,500; — total, 40,000 francs. M.Mar- 
tins enters into circumstantial details upon the principal rules 
which have been established, to calculate the price, either of 
simple medicines or compound substances, or lastly of chemi- 
cal compounds, which is much more difficult. 
The appearance of homoeopathic medicine, which in all 
countries has caused some injury to pharmacy, but only for a 
short time, has caused in the regulations a modification which 
went into operation in September, 1830. Sixteen and two- 
thirds per cent, were added to the disbursements of the apothe- 
cary, so that a medicine, which in Hamburgh cost 100 shillings, 
would sell for 355 in Norway. 
Although the whole of these arrangements reconcile the 
