Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
August,  1913.  j 
The  New  Drugstore. 
369 
In  no  age  has  the  drugstore  ever  been  established  upon  a  more 
solid,  substantial  basis  than  that  upon  which  it  stands  to-day. 
The  New  Drugstore  fills  the  needs  of  its  patrons  and  enters 
into  the  commercial  and  economic  life  of  the  people  who  enter  its 
doors.  Never  did  the  apothecary  shop  attain  as  hearty,  as  far- 
reaching  an  appreciation  and  popularity  as  does  the  drugstore  of 
to-day. 
The  old  apothecary  shop  was  visited  only  in  times  of  stress,  the 
New  Drugstore  is  thronged  with  eager  shoppers. 
What  Is  in  Sight 
So  many  and  so  frequent  are  the  changes  in  the  trend  of  trade 
that  it  is  difficult  to  forestall  the  next  turn.  A  brief  span  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century  has  brought  movements  that  are  almost  revo- 
lutionary. More  and  more  the  drugstore  adds  to  the  lines  of  mer- 
chandise—so much  so  that  drugs  and  medicines  have  come  to 
occupy  only  a  small  space  in' a  variety  of  stock. 
An  instance  is  cited  where  a  stock  of  drugs  was  moved  to  a  small  room 
at  the  side  of  the  store.  In  the  main  part  of  the  store  there  is  an  elaborate 
array  of  china,  glass,  silver,  umbrellas,  canes,  stationery,  ice  cream,  soda 
water  and  a  host  of  other  commodities. 
The  Drugstore  is  now  considered  the  largest  factor  in  handling 
stationery,  confectionery,  cigars  and  photographic  supplies;  com- 
mon adjuncts  are  fully  equipped  restaurants  and  ice  cream  gardens. 
When  the  drug  trade  complains  that  the  other  dealers  have  en- 
croached upon  its  province,  it  may  reflect  that  it  has  reciprocated. 
Prohibition  and  local  option  have  brought  a  readjustment  in  the 
sale  of  alcoholic  preparations ;  anti-narcotic  laws  have  very  mark- 
edly affected  the  sale  of  drugstore  commodities. 
In  many  stores  the  sale  of  liquors  has  been  abandoned  voluntarily.  A 
druggist  recently  stated  that  he  was  contemplating  discontinuing  the  sale 
of  commodities,  which  must  be  sold  under  restrictions. 
As  expenses  mount  upward,  the  output  must  be  increased,  thus 
many  druggists  do  not  hesitate  to  take  on  many  lines  that  promise 
profit.  Sometimes  the  drugstore  is  the  means  by  which  notable 
successes  have  been  achieved.  The  introduction  of  the  Safety 
Razor  was  a  failure  in  the  cutlery  trade — the  maker  took  it  over  to 
the  drug  trade,  and  the  result  has  been  one  of  the  modern  marvels. 
