Your particular attention is respectfully called to the following heads in this circular: Stocks of Cinchona Barks, page 4 Importations of 11 "5 Bark Quotations, " 7 Sulphate Quinta-Quotations, " 7 American Sulphate Quinia, 8 Cheaper Alkaloids, " 9 Legislation, " 11 Comparison of Bates on Chemicals AND OTHER ARTICLES, " 15 REMARKS ON SULPHATE OF QUINIA. BY ALEXANDER II. JONES. April, 1877. (From the Baltimore Sun, April 21,1S77.] The Quinine Monopoly, One of the most important articles in the whole materia medica is quinine. It is among the very few which, by the general concurrence of physi- cians, is regarded as a specific in malarial diseases. How necessary it is in the Western and Southern States, where malarial disorders are common, and how extensively it is used as a prophylactic and an antidote, every intelligent person well knows. Since last year the price of quinine has been ad vanced from $2.20 per ounce to $4.50 per ounce,* the reason assigned being the scarcity of Peruvian, or, more properly speaking, cinchona bark. That there is a shorter supply at this time in Europe would seem to be true, and this fact justifies some increase of the price there.f But the scarcity of bark in Europe appears to be owing in good part to the heavy importations into the United States, so heavy, indeed, as to render it doubtful whether the plea of its scarcity here has not been gotten up by speculators to force up the price of quinine. In- stead of there having been a decline in the supply of cinchona bark, as some assert, j our statistics of imports show that the quantity has been annually increasing ; that in the past four years the imports have risen from 2,852,841 pounds in 1872, to 5,280,150 pounds in 1876, § the imports in the latter year being nearly one million of pounds in excess of those of 1875. It is suggestive, in this connec- tion, that up to 1870 cinchona bark paid a duty of twenty per cent., but in that year it was made free and a heavy duty placed on foreign quinine,|| in which connection we find it stated that "all the American quinine is produced by two or three manufactories in Philadelphia," coupled with the remark, "why the duty on cinchona bark was re- moved, and an almost prohibitory duty pKiced on foreign quinine will, with this explanation, appear obvious." The effect of this impolitic measure has been to exclude foreign quinine from the markets of the United States so extensively that the importations which in 1873-before the Philadelphia manufac- turers had gotten a monopoly of the market- amounted to 122,784 ounces, were reduced in 1876 to 22,746 ounces, and would have ceased entirely if it were not that some persons believe that the foreign quinine is superior to that made here, and more efficacious in operation. Entertaining this belief, they were willing to pay a higher price for * This is not true. Manufacturers have not advanced their price above $4.25 per ounce.-A. H. J, t Nearly 150 per cent, in England.-A. H. J t The decline referred to is simply a fact. It is not a question of assertion, hut a matter of official record.-A. H. J. § During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876, i. e., from July 1, 1875, to June 30, 1876, and not from January 1, to December 31, 1876. Therefore the period of scarcity is not included. The war caused the scarcity, and it lasted from July, 1876, to April, 1877. A. H. J. || This is very unfairly stated. In 1870 Barks were made free, but the duty on Sulph. Quinia was not disturbed.-A. H. J. (2) 3 it than for the American article, which the shrewd monopolists, protected by a heavy duty, put at a price just below what foreign quinine could be im- ported at and sold at a profit. All special legisla- tion in a particular interest, and especially when that legislation creates a monopoly, carries with it a taint of the lobby and suspicion of a job. Whe- ther it was by undue influences that a heavy duty was put on foreign quinine we do not undertake to say, but the effect of it has been to deprive the United States of the revenue before derived from the importation of bark, and also by reason of the prohibitive duty of all revenue but a mere pittance from the importation of quinine. Three American firms have control of the drug. Within the past four years ten millions of pounds of cinchona bark in ex- cess of the importations of the four previous years have entered the ports of the United States, and by reducing the European supply caused the price abroad to advance. The American manufacturers of quinine have thus been able to double the price to consumers. Such legislation as imposes duties that produce no revenue to the government, while it shuts out competition and makes enormous profits for a few at the expense of the many, is not only to be profoundly deprecated, but should be corrected in an essential degree whenever the tariff again comes up for revision, or even by a special act for the purpose if necessary. The Maryland Medical Association, at its recent annual meeting in this city, took action on this subject by appointing a committee to memorialize Congress with a view to getting the income tax on quinine removed. The supervising surgeon general of the United States marine hospitals has also called the attention of the medical officers of that branch of the service to the extraordinary price of the sulphate of quinine, and suggested a fair trial of other species of cin- chona, hut more particularly the quinida cincho- nidia and cinchona sulphates, which are much less costly, and believed to be equally efficacious with the sulphate of quinine or salts of calisaya bark. Much more to the purpose would be the reduction of the duty on quinine, which would have the dou- ble effect of bringing in considerable revenue to the treasury and of reducing the price by breaking down the existing monopoly and encouraging com- petition. SULPHATE OF QU EVIA. A civil war in the United States of Colombia, South America, that raged for about nine months, prevented the liberation of Cinchona Barks and caused great scarcity and high prices in the markets of Europe and this country. On the 10th of July, 1876, the first blood was shed in Palmira, and on the 6th of April, 1877, the Government gained a decided victory at Manizales, and, it is hoped, ended the war. The advance in the price of Cinchona Barks-due to their scarcity- 4 caused a corresponding advance in the price of Sulphate of Quinia in England, on the European Continent, and in this country. The high price of Sulphate of Quinia having elicited considerable comment and no little misrepresentation, it is due to the manufacturers of this article, to the trade and to consumers, that facts should be given; and, with this in view, attention is directed to the following statement. * * * ■ * * The advance in the price of Sulphate of Quinia, during the past twelve months, and the present high quotations ruling in this country, in England, and on the continent of Europe, can readily be understood by any one who will investigate the condition of the Bark market for the same period-the supply and the cost of the crude material. Stocks of Cinchona Barks. First, as to stocks of Cinchona Barks held in this country-it is sim- ply a fact that they are greatly reduced. Manufacturers have but a small supply remaining at their factories, and in the warehouses of the importers there is not one twentieth of the quantity usually held there -thus, 1876. April 1, 11,746 serons in New York (importers' warehouses). 1876. May 1, 12,628 " " " " 1877. May 1, 504 That is to say, about 500 packages in store, against from 10,000 to 15,000 packages, ordinary stock. And this will create no surprise if we examine the figures showing the importations, into New York,* during the past twelve months, say direct from South America and from Europe. 1876. April . . 5782 serons. May . 4170 " June ..... . 3711 " July . 2693 " August .... . 1333 " September .... . 3133 " October .... . 1690 " November . . . 728 " December .... . 633 " 1877. January .... . 990 " February .... . . 505 " March .... . 484 " April ..... . 548 " Thus if figures mean anything, and 548 packages in April, 1877, against 5782 packages in April, 1876, indicate a falling off-and it is to be presumed that no one will deny so obvious a fact-it is clearly de- monstrated, by the foregoing statistics, that the importations of Bark into this country have materially decreased, during the period in ques- tion. * The importations into New York represent almost the aggregate receipts of barks for the entire country-very little is received elsewhere. 5 In regard to Government tables, prepared at the Bureau of Statistics, from which extracts have been made (in the article recently published in the Baltimore Sun), to prove that importations of Bark have increased, and not diminished, and that those for 1876 were exceptionally large, it is to be observed that the last official volume embraces only two of the past twelve months-i. e., May-June, 1876 (of necessity, terminating with the fiscal year ended June 30,1876). For the entire fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, they have not been (nor can they yet be) compiled ; and yet it is during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877, that the diminished importation into this country (or exportation from South America) has occurred. Hence figures to prove the large arrivals of Bark in previous years have no force whatever, as no one has claimed scarcity for those years. The arrivals of Bark for the year ending June 30, 1876, have been contrasted with the arrivals for 1875, to show that the imports in 1876 were enormously large-"nearly one million pounds in excess of those of 1875," and, inferentially, that supplies must still be ample-notwith- standing the fact that the unusually large demand for Sulph. Quinia in 1876 about exhausted them, but care seems to have been taken to withhold the figures for 1874, and for the period, July, 1876, to April, 1877, inclu- sive, and these omissions we would like to supply in this connection. Importations of Cinchona Barks. For fiscal year ended June 30, 1873 . " " ' " " June 30, 1874 . " " " " June 30, 1875 . " " " " June 30, 1876 . . 4,438,935 pounds . 5,140,5001 " . 4,520,390 " . 5,280,150 " eight months ended February, 1876 . " " " " February, 1877 . . 3,525,732 pounds. . 1,463,245 " (The above figures are from tables furnished by Bureau of Statistics.) The excess for the fiscal year ended June 30,1876, over 1875, will be seen to be, from the above figures (and they are official), 759,760 pounds. The excess for 1876 over 1874 was but 139,649| pounds, so that the increase in 1876 was not very remarkable, being a gain of less than 3 per cent, on the quantity imported in 1874. The object of the writer who recently furnished figures to the Balti- more Sun appears to have been, to disprove the statement that importa- tions of Bark for the past twelve months have greatly decreased, but as he has given no facts whatever, having ended with June 30, 1876, which was prior to the marked falling off*, we have supplied this very important omission. If we commence with May, 1876, and end with April, 1877, both in- clusive (a period of twelve months), we find the importations into New York to have been 20,618 bales or serons, averaging 110 pounds each, or say 2,267,980 pounds. If the arrivals during May and June, 1877, * Active war operations in the United. States of Colombia commenced in July, 1876. 6 do not exceed the average arrivals of the past six months (648 hales per month) we shall find the importations into New York for the fiscal year .ending June 30, 1877, to be still less, or say about 14,033 bales, at 110 pounds each,' equal to 1,543,630 pounds, and a total importation of probably not over 1,754,125 pounds, against 5,280,150 pounds for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1876. The statement that present stocks of Bark are exceptionally reduced, and that the importations for the past twelve months into this country have been very light, are only facts, and it is idle to dispute them. The figures furnished by the Bureau of Statistics, representing the total importations during the eight months ended February, 1877, we pre- sume will be admitted to indicate a decided diminution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. It is quite pertinent, at this point, to state that no provision has been made by the United States Government to secure supplies of Cinchona Bark from sources other than South America, so that American manu- facturers are obliged to rely upon the South American States exclusively for their crude material. The United States Government, so far from assisting, in this direction, has placed difficulties in the way of obtaining supplies elsewhere-thus East India Bark, bought in the London market and imported into this country, is subject to a discriminating duty of 10 per cent, ad valorem. (Considerable parcels of high grade Cinchona Barks are now regularly exported from the East Indies to Europe, and purchases could be made by American manufacturers were it not for the discriminating duty.) In striking contrast with the course pursued by our own Government has been the policy followed by the English and Dutch Governments. Through the active exertions, and liberal as well as intelligent policy, of the Dutch and English Governments, the Cinchona tree is now being cultivated on a large scale in the East Indies, and for at least ten years past East India Barks have been arriving in the London and other European markets, and in constantly increasing quantities. Thus the European manufacturers have two sources of supply, and the American manufacturers but one. If the South American supplies are curtailed at any time, the American manufacturers cannot go into the London market upon equal terms with their English, French, and German competitors, and buy barks cultivated in the East Indies, but are forced to restrict their operations to such meagre supplies of South American barks as can be obtained, or else import East India barks, and pay a discrimi- nating duty of 10 per cent. {East India barks are consigned to Europe. If bought by Americans in England, France, Holland, Germany, or elsewhere in Europe and imported into the United States, a discrimi- nating duty of 10 per cent, is imposed, as the place of production is east of the Cape of Good Hope, while the places of export {London for example) are west of the Cape.) The English and other European manufacturers can obtain East India, as well as South American Barks, duty free. 7 Bark Quotations. Scarcity usually induces high prices. This proposition will hardly be denied. In the case before us, we find that manufacturers of Sulphate of Quinia have been obliged to pay double, and even three times, aver- age prices for Barks, during the past twelve months. London Public Ledger, April 21, 1877. Bark Calisaya, quill. 4s. Gd. to 9s. 9d. against 2s. Gd. to 4s. Id. Apr. 20,1876. " Carthagena 5 s. to 6s. " Is. 5d. to 2s. 2d. " " Columbian and N. G. 2s. to 7s. 6d. " Is. 2d. to3s. Id. " " East India 3s. to 15s. Gd. " 2s. to 6s. " (About the middle of April, 1877, in London, 177 bales East India Cinchona, grown in the Government gardens at Ootacamund, realized 5s. 7d. to 11s. 8d. for fair to good, and 15s. 7d. to 15s. 8d. for fine "re- newed" crown. 100 bales good to fine Carthagena sold at 4s. 8d. to 5s. lOd.) Sulpliate of -Quinia-quotations. Under these circumstances, an advance in the price of the manufac- tured product, Sulphate of Quinia, corresponding to the enhanced cost of the crude material, Cinchona Barks, must he admitted to have been a necessity; and we find that manufacturers, here and abroad, gradually advanced prices as barks became scarcer and dearer. 1876 Howards' in vials. Pelletier's in vials. German in bulk. American. January 8 65. 6s. @ 6s. 2d. 5s. 6d. @ 5s. 7d. $2.20 currency b. i. February 9 6s. 8d, (jS. 5s. 9d. March 18 7s. $s. 6d, 6s. @ 6s. 3d. »* *4 April 1 7s. 2d. ■ 6.v. 6d. @ 6,9. Sd. 3<Z. << :< << July 22 7s. id. 6s. 9d. @ 6s. 10d. 6s. 6d. $2.30 August 1 " 5 7s. 8d. 7s. @ 7s. 2d. 6s. lOd. @ 7s. " 16 . . $2.40 " " " 19 7s. lOd. @ 8s. 7s. 6d. 7s. 2d. @ 7s. id. September 4 8s. id. @ 8s. 3d. 7s. 6d. @ 7s. Sd. 7s. 6d. $2.50 " " 44 !0 9s. id. @ 9s. 6d. 9s. 6d. 8s. lOd. 44 it ll October 28 10s. @ 10s. id. 9s. 8d. @ 9s. 107. 9s. @ 9s. 3d. $'>.60 " " November 10 Ils. • $2.70 " 4 ' 11 18 •••••••••••• 10s. 6d. @ 10s. 9d. 9s. 3d. @ 9s. 6d. $3.00 1877 March 3 " 8 ............ $3.25 " " " 15 11s. 6d. " 16 $3.50 " " " 19 12s. 3d. ............ $3.75 " " 23 •••••• $3.85 " " " 27 15s. iid. 13s. @ lad. $4.09 " " " 29 14s. 6d. " 31 April 10 16s. $4.25 " " " 11 ••••••••.••a " 14 " 23 8 Thus in January, 1876, the price of Sulphate of Quinia in England was 6s. 6d., while in April, 1877, it was 16s. French and German quotations show a similar advance. We believe that 16 shillings is more than double 6j shillings. If it is so, then European manufacturers have more than doubled their price but not a word is said to indicate this, by the writer of the article in the Baltimore Sun. He could not be expected to do this-he could only say that there was " some increase of the price" in Europe. It is in harmony with articles of this kind, for it is a most remarkable fact that the opponents of Protection to Home Industries very frequently permit their argu- ments to be disingenuous and untruthful. Buf when he comes to strike at the home manufacturers, he states " The American manufacturers of quinine have thus been able to double the price to consumers." The desire to misrepresent American manufacturers, so often mani- fested by Americans, is not especially to be commended-for it is "a dirty bird that fouls its own nest." 16 shillings is equal to about 4 dollars in gold, and this is the price to- day for an ounce of Sulphate of Quinia in England ; and in France and Germany it is about the same. American manufacturers are selling at $4.25 currency per ounce, against $2.20 currency per ounce, this time last year. Having as briefly as possible given the real state of the case, as to stocks and prices, it seems proper to notice some other statements made in the article recently published in the Baltimore Sun, already referred to. American Sulphate of Quinia. In regard to the assertion that some consider foreign Sulphate of Quinia to be superior to the American, it is too absurd to need a denial. The American article is in the open market-in every drug store in the country- prescribed and endorsed by the best physicians throughout the length and breadth of the land. As newspaper editors can hardly be expected to know much about Sulphate of Quinia-especially as to its quality-and physicians of emi- nence are supposed to know a great deal on this particular point, atten- tion is directed to the following copy of a memorial sent to Congress in 1876 To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States: The undersigned, practitioners in Medicine and Pharmacy, respect- fully represent the necessity of maintaining the supply of Quinine from manufactories established in this country. The purity and excellence of the American Quinine have become proverbial, and the whole medi- cal and pharmaceutical community rely with absolute confidence on the product of American manufacturers. It is of the first importance that this country should maintain its independence in respect to the supply of this indispensable medicine. 9 The health of large numbers of our inhabitants, and the prosperity of whole districts of country, depend upon a large and steadily growing production of American Quinine. No legislation should be allowed to lessen it or to make the country dependent on uncertain and unreliable sources in lieu of the present well-established domestic manufacture with its uniform standard of excellence. [signed.] S. D. GROSS. WM. H. PANCOAST. JOHN H. PACKARD. JNO. NEILL. J. CHESTON MORRIS. THOMAS G. MORTON. J. CARSON. D. HAYES AGNEW. FRANCIS G. SMITH, Jr. J. M. DACOSTA. WILLIAM PEPPER. JOSEPH PANCOAST. AND OTHERS. The medicinal value of Sulphate of Quinia is too well known to be disputed ; hence the importance of conducting the manufacture of this article in the United States. Coincident with the manufacture of Sulphate ®f Quinia is that of the cheaper alkaloids of the Cinchona Barks. As to the relative medicinal value of the alkaloids it may be stated, that the ratio of cures in 1000 cases of malarial fevers at Madras, British India, in 1866, is asserted by official (Government) report, to have been as follows:- The cheaper Alkaloids of Cinchona Barks. Quinidia .... . 994 Quinia . 993 Cinchonidia .... . 990 Cinchonia .... . 977 During the late scarcity and high prices of Barks and Sulphate of Quinia, the cheaper alkaloids have been sold freely and at low rates. In this way, no real inconvenience has been experienced in this country. Supplies of these remedies have been abundant up to this time, and pro- bably will continue so until further arrivals of bark enable manufac- turers to produce Sulphate of Quinia as freely as usual. Thus it will be seen that by reason of having this industry established at home, no one has suffered for want of cheap and reliable remedies, at a time, when, under other circumstances, the greatest distress would have been experienced.* The cheaper alkaloids have been largely and successfully employed (especially during the past nine months)-the results in this country being quite as satisfactory as those in British India. * The supply of barks in Europe has been so small, and Government contracts so large (incident to the mobilizing of large bodies of men in Europe) that but little Sul- phate of Quinia could have been spared from Europe for use here. 10 Sulphate of Quinidia is selling at about one-third the price of Sulphate of Quinia-yet it was found by the Madras Commission that in 1000 cases treated, Quinidia failed but G times, while Quinia failed 7 times in 1000 cases. Sulphate of Cinchonidia is selling at about one-seventh the price of Sulphate of Quinia-yet in 1000 cases treated by it, there were but 10 failures, against 7 with Quinia, as above. Sulphate of Cinchonia is selling at about one-eighteenth the price of Sulphate of Quinia-yet in 1000 cases treated by it, the ratio of failure was but 23, against 7 with Quinia, as above. To these is to be added Chinoidine, cheaper still than any of the pre parations named, and considered by many to be equally as valuable as Quinia. If we add to the testimony of the Madras Commission the experience of the physicians of this country, as stated in hundreds of letters in the hands of the American manufacturers, the conviction must be forced upon the most skeptical that the cheaper alkaloids of the Cinchona Barks are almost, if not quite, equal to Quinia. To this consideration is then to be added another one, equally impor- tant. The supply has been ample to meet all demands. And to these two, must be still added one more fact. The prices have been so low as to be within the reach of all classes-and that this point may be well assured, we quote from the price lists of the manufacturers. 1877. April. Quinidia, Sulphate c. v. 5° oz. $1.50. Cinchonidia, " c. v. 5° oz. .80. Cinchonia " c. v. 4° oz. .35. Chinoidine in 1 oz. rolls oz. .16. in 50 oz. boxes oz. .14. (Prices to the wholesale dealers, who purchase in large parcels, are still below the printed list rates.) To the people of the South and West, especially, it is a matter of grave concern that large stocks ©f the various alkaloids of the Cinchona Barks (Quinidia, Cinchonidia, Cinchonia-as well as Quinia) should be avail- able at short notice-for the demand is more or less uncertain; that they should be made, and held in quantity for emergencies, by reliable, responsible, reputable, and non-speculative manufacturers. It can be asserted, without fear of contradiction from those who can draw the distinction between truth and falsehood, that the ability on the part of American manufacturers to furnish to the people of the United States, during the past ten months of unprecedented scarcity and high price of Cinchona barks, remedies for malarial fevers, pure, cheap, and in abundance, has been a national blessing. Hence it need occasion no surprise when we state that the continu- ance of this industry in the United States is regarded by the intelligent dealers in drugs, in the South and West, as of the greatest importance to the people of their sections of our country. So that when the Tariff 11 was under consideration, during the last session of Congress, and the principal druggists signed a memorial asking that sufficient protection to maintain the manufacture here be continued; among the signers were the leading houses of New Orleans, Galveston, Charleston, Savan- nah, Macon, Columbus, Atlanta, Augusta, Shreveport, Vicksburg, Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Nashville, Montgomery, Selma, Mobile, Richmond, Saint Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Quincy, Lawrence, Kansas City, etc. Legislation. As to a monopoly existing in the United States, the statement is simply false. Any one is entirely at liberty to engage in the manufacture, to buy and sell, import and export. By Act of July 14, 1862, the duty on Sulphate of Quinia was made 45 per cent, ad valorem. At the same time Cinchona Barks were made dutiable 20 per cent, ad valorem. By Act of July 14, 1870, Cinchona Barks were made duty free. By Act of June 6, 1872, the duty on Sulphate of Quinia was made 20 per cent, ad valorem. Attention has been called to the fact that in 1870, when Cinchona Barks were.transferred to the free list, the duty on Sulphate of Quinia remained undisturbed. This is a matter of record (as stated above-not as in the Baltimore Sun), and no one desires to dispute this point. But there are two facts to be considered in this connection. First. Manufacturers of Sulphate of Quinia so far from requesting this course, themselves proposed a reduction of the duty on the manu- factured article, in consideration of the crude material being made free. But Congress did not take any action on Sulphate of Quinia, so that the duty on it was not changed. Hon. William D. Kelley, then a mem- ber of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, was well aware at that time of the readiness of the manufacturers to have the rate reduced as stated. During the session of 1870, however, Congress legislated almost exclusively on crude materials, and did not reach many manufactured articles. Second. Manufacturers of Suphate of Quinia at no time availed them- selves of the 45 per cent, duty during the period when Barks were free and Sulph. Quinia dutiable 45 per cent. Thus, during 1871, foreign Sulph. Quinia ranged from 7s. 6d. to 8s. The duty was 45 per cent. The gold rate was about 12 per cent. The cost to import was about $2.92 to $3.11 per ounce, in currency. Had the manufacturers here based their prices on cost to import, in- cluding duty at 45 per cent., their price would have been $3 per ounce, whereas the facts are that their contracts for that year were mainly made 12 at $2.30 per ounce, and the price was not advanced beyond those figures until September, when the price was made $2.50 per ounce for new orders. In other words, they were satisfied with a duty of about 20 per cent., and their quotations, for the period in question, prove that they acted accordingly, irrespective of any accidental advantage thrown in their way, by the failure of Congress to change the rate on Quinia. So much for the "taint of the lobby and suspicion of a job." Usually the American manufacturers can fully supply the home demand for Sulphate of Quinia. Occasionally-in very sickly seasons- some has to be imported. The writer of the article in the Baltimore Sun comments on this point thus:- " The effect of this impolitic measure has been to exclude foreign qui- nine from the markets of the United States so extensively that the im- portations which in 1873-before the Philadelphia manufacturers had gotten a monopoly of the market-amounted to 122,784 ounces, were reduced in 1876 to 22,746 ounces,* and would have ceased entirely if it were not that some persons believe that the foreign quinine is superior to that made here and more efficacious in operation. Entertaining this belief, they were willing to pay a higher price for it than for the Ame- rican article, which the shrewd monopolists, protected by a heavy duty, put at a price just below what foreign quinine could be imported at and sold at a profit."! It may edify the writer, whose remarks are here quoted, to be informed that the Philadelphia manufacturers do not have, and never have had a monopoly-but their position in the American market was about the same for some years prior to 1873 as since that time ; for in 1870, and several years previous, Barks were dutiable 20 per cent., and Sul- phate of Quinia 45 per cent. Now, as in 1873, Barks are free, and Sul- phate of Quinia dutiable 20 per cent. He evidently knows very little of what he has written about. If he would consult Heyl's U. S. Im- port duties for rates prior to 1870, and inquire of the drug trade as to supplies of Sulph. Quinia furnished by American manufacturers for years before 1870, he might learn facts, and be better able to discuss the Quinia question than he is now. As before stated-under most circumstances the American manufac- turers are fully able to meet all demands upon them. Sometimes, however, the supplies are not quite sufficient and foreign Sulphate of Quinia is imported. Thus during the late scarcity of Cinchona Barks-for the period January to April, 1877-there has been imported about 65,000 ounces * January-April, 1877-about 65,000 ounces.-A. H. J. f English Sulph. Quinia in April, 16 shillings, equal to about $4, gold, per ounce there. With 20 per cent, duty, and gold at 107-cost to import about $5.13 currency, American manufacturers selling at $4.25 currency. Perhaps $4.25 is just below $5.13! - A. H. J. 13 of foreign Sulphate of Quinia. Importations for previous years have been, say- For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1872, 34,723 ounces. " " " " 1873, 122,784 " " " " " 1874, 68,097 " " ' " " " 1875, 12,279 " 22,746 " " " " " 1876, " four months of 1877, Jan.-Apr. ab't. 65,000 " In 1873-"before the Philadelphia manufacturers had gotten a monopoly of the market," as the writer in question states, 122,784 ozs. were imported. Yet one year prior to this (1872) -only 34,723 ounces were imported. If they had no monopoly in 1873, they certainly had none in 1872. The fiscal year ended June 30, 1873, embraced July 1, 1872, to June 30, 1873, and covered the summer and fall months of 1872, and during this period there was an unusual amount of sickness and a very large demand for Sulphate of Quinia.* Hence the amount of foreign imported. For the other years, above noted, American manufacturers were able to supply the demand almost entirely. In 1877, the increased importation is sufficiently explained when the scarcity of barks is considered. Now, in regard to the revenue derived by the government, compare it with that from wheat flour. Sulphate of quinia is dutiable 20 per cent. Wheat flour is dutiable ..... 20 " For fiscal year ended June 30, 1876, the duty on sulph. quinia yielded .... . $6223 40 For fiscal year ended June 30, 1876, the duty on wheat flour yielded . 9803 16 If to the customs duty is added the internal revenue tax on distilled spirits, it will be found that a greater revenue was derived from sulphate of quinia than from wheat flour. If 20 per cent, duty on sulphate of quinia is a tax on the consumer, 20 per cent, duty on wheat flour is a tax on the consumer. This is the theory of a class of political economists-very decidedly stated by Wayland and others of his school. The duty on wheat flour is either for revenue or protection-one or the other. There is no evading this. If for revenue $9803.16 is a small sum and might be dispensed with-if for protection, it is strange that so little is said about wheat flour and so much about sulph. quinia-the duties being the same-20 per cent. If the duty is a tax on the consumer, and everybody uses wheat flour and wants cheap food, it seems a very hard case that we all pay 20 per cent, more than we otherwise should for our wheat flour, and the * The demand for S. Quinia during the fiscal year 1873-say from July 1, 1872, to June 30, 1873-was larger than ever known before. 14 government derive but the trifling sum of $9803.16, the amount received in 1876. The sick use sulphate of quinia; the sick and the well use wheat flour. Cheap food is as important as cheap medicine. Perhaps the sick are always poor, and the well are always rich. It so happens that there are but three manufacturers of sulphate of quinia in this country. Two are in Philadelphia, and one is in New York. But there is no monopoly. The wonder, however, is that any one should have had the boldness to engage in the manufacture of this, or any other article, in this country, for the annoyance from gross misrepresentation, and the uncertainty from tariff tinkering, leave capitalists but little encouragement to engage in manufacturing in the United States. But how many manufacturers of sulphate of quinia are there in Eng- land ? It is curious that we are not informed by the writer for the Baltimore Sun something about this. The number is not large. In England there is the distinguished house of Howards & Sons, and, I believe, but one other of any promi- nence. If England, with markets for her products all over the world, and with her colonies giving a preference to English sulphate of quinia as well as other goods of English make, has but two large firms of quinine manufacturers, it is not very surprising that there are but three in the United States.* And if three have a monopoly in this country, what a monopoly two must have in Great Britain! The facts are, that to make sulphate of quinia successfully, it must be done on a large scale. Great commercial experience and large capi- tal, as well as economy and skill in manufacturing, are absolutely essential-and very few happen to have these qualifications combined, whether in England, France, Germany, or the United States. Be- sides these considerations, the manufacturer of this article, in the United States, is a target for abuse and lies, and there are not many men of capital-unless already established-who are willing to submit to a treatment of this kind. If the business is such a monopoly, there is a fine field open for the writer who tells the readers of the Baltimore Sun what he knows about quinine. The intelligent reader, whether in this country or elsewhere, knows that the United States Government has a protective tariff. To foster native industries has been and is the avowed policy of the Government. * The number of manufacturers of Sulphate of Quinia, of any note whatever, does not exceed (so far as I know) fifteen (15) in England and the Continent of Europe-say at Mannheim, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Oppenheim, Braunschweig, Dresden, London, Paris, Havre, Milan, and Amsterdam. 15 It grants duties for protection to all classes-to the farmer and planter in- 20 cents per bushel on Wheat, 20 per cent, on Wheat Flour, 15 cents per bushel on Rye, 10 per cent, on Rye Flour, 10 cents per bushel on Corn, 10 per cent, on Corn Meal, 15 cents per bushel on Potatoes, 2 j cents per pound on cleaned Rice, etc. ;- to all classes of manufacturers, to the growers of wool, the miners of coal, the hewers of wood, the makers of salt-to every industry, even to the gatherers of Sumac and the makers of rough grindstones- duties for protection. This is the policy of the U. S. Government. It is 'well understood throughout the world. Such being the case, the manufacturer of Sulphate of Quinia has a right to demand, on general principles, that the Government should protect him as well as others. No fair man will deny that the duty on Sulphate of Quinia is low when compared with the rates imposed upon other classes of manufactured goods. As may be seen by referring to the tariff of duties of the United States, it is far below' the average. Contrast the duty on Sulphate of Quinia, 20 per cent., with- 60 per cent, on dress and piece silks, ribbons, and silk velvfcts. 50 per cent, on Aubusson and Axminster carpets, and carpets woven W7hole for rooms. 50 cents per pound, and 35 per cent, on woollen cloths, woollen shawls, and all manufactures of wool of every description, not otherwise provided for. 50 per cent, on penknives, jack-knives, and pocket-knives of all kinds. 35 per cent, on carriages. 45 per cent, on China, porcelain, and Parian ware, plain white. 50 " " " " " decorated. 35 per cent, on cotton hosiery, etc. In the manufacture of Sulphate of Quinia, alcohol is an important item, and this is made from distilled spirits, taxed by the Government 90 cents per gallon (equal to about $1.70 per gallon on alcohol). Yet the duty is but 20 per cent, on foreign Sulphate of Quinia (made with untaxed alcohol), while duties ranging from 35 to 60 per cent., and higher, are imposed upon many other classes of manufactured goods, in which alcohol forms no part whatever. If it is just, to fix such rites, as now exist, upon iron and steel, cot- tons and woollens, silks and linens, carriages, and cutlery, etc. ; if it is proper to have protective duties on corn and oats, potatoes and salt, sumac and grindstones, w'hy is it not right to impose a duty on Sul- phate of Quinia ? The policy of England for about thirty years has been that known as 16 Free Trade. Formerly, it was Protection to the extent of Prohibition. If this country should adopt the Free Trade policy, and treat all manu- facturers alike, and reduce duties on all classes of manufactured goods, then the case would be altered entirely, and chemists would have to be included with other manufacturers. But until such is the case, and while those who make rough grindstones, or gather sumac, or make leather, salt, cotton, woollen, silk, and linen goods, dig coal, cut timber, raise wool, dig potatoes-engage in any industry in fact- are protected, the makers of Sulphate of Quinia have the right as American citizens to claim that the general policy of the Government shall apply to them as to all others. As a matter of interest it may be stated, that (according to the British tariff) in England, in 1858-9, Quinine Sulphate remained dutiable, and yet at that time almost all manufactured goods were on the free list. In 1855, June 26th, an act was passed to allow Spirit of Wine to be used, duty free, in the arts and manufactures of the United Kingdom. If to these facts are added the care taken by the British Government in introducing the Cinchona Barks into the East Indies, it will be seen that the manufacture of Sulphate of Quinia has been assisted and en- couraged in Great Britain, and, indeed, that it has received more care and attention from the Government during recent years, than has been accorded to many other branches of industry in that great workshop- England. Resolutions of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania, adopted unanimously at their meeting at Harrisburg, June 14, 1877: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States : The Medical Society of Pennsylvania respectfully represents the necessity of maintaining the supply of Quinine from manufactories in this country.. The purity and excellence of the Ameri- caftQiflnine have become proverbial, and the whole medical and pharmaceutical community rely with absolute confidence on the pro- manufacturers. JfTs' of the first importance that this country should maintain its independence in respect to the supply of this indispensable medicine. The health of large numbers of our inhabitants, and the prosperity of whole-districts of country, depend upon a large and steadily grow- ing production of American Quinine. No legislation should be allowed to lessen it or to make the country dependent on uncertain and unre- liable sources in lieu of the present well-established domestic manufac- ture with its uniform standard of excellence. Collins, Printer.