The consumption of cascara sagrada has been so large that there is at present a great dearth of the genuine bark. Even the inferior varieties adulterated with spurious barks which are offered in the open market have greatly advanced in price, and advices from the habitat of cascara sagrada state positively that no more of the genuine bark will be obtainable until next fall. The undoubted result of this scarcity will be to flood the market with many inferior and medicinally inert preparations of the drug. At this juncture it gives us pleasure to state that we have never relied for our supplies of cascara sagrada on the inferior articles offered in the open market, but in accordance with our usual method take every precaution to obtain supplies from reliable sources. We have now on hand a large and ample stock of the genuine, best quality Rhamnus Purshiana. We shall not, however, take advantage of the market and raise our price, but shall continue to supply only the highest quality preparations of the drug at our regular price. We believe physicians, in view of the facts stated and of our special knowledge of cascara sagrada obtained by long and careful study of its properties and manufacture, will see the propriety of specifying only cascara sagrada of our_manufacture. Send for our Working Bulletin and Monograph on Rhamnus Purshiana. THE PEPSIN QUESTION! Now, as to the pepsin question. What pepsin do you prescribe, and why? If you will examime the facts we here present, you can have only one opinion as to pepsin in future. Circulars fully presenting the claims we make for our scale pepsin with a sample of it will be mailed to physicians who wish to investigate it. We can only say here that in appearance, solubility, digestive strength and permanence, it is far superior, and admittedly so, to any pepsin hitherto introduced. A careful search through the prescription file of a prominent New York pharmacist reveals the surprising fact that fully 75 per cent. of physicians neglect to specify when prescribing pepsin, but simply order "pure pepsin." Now they might as consistently order "solution of cocaine," without designating any particular strength. "Pure Pepsin," as it is known commercially, is not a definite principle; neither has the pharmacopoeia as yet established a standard of strength, and, consequently, ever producer ia law unto himself. It is obvious that digestive activity is the sole criterion of apeutic value in preparations of the proteolytic ferment, and a physician is consequently enabled to predict with reasonable certainty the comparative effect that may be expected from the various pepsins found in the market. The following tabulated statement of the comparative quantities of the various pepsins that should be prescribed in order to accomplish the same purpose may, therefore, enable them to so write their prescriptions that the best shall be obtained at the lowest price. These figures are based upon each manufacturer's claim, without regard to the discrepancies which we know to exist; but when the fact be considered that our Pepsinum Purum in Lamellis, with a digestive power of one to 2000 is marketed at a price comparing favorably with that established for many of the inferior varieties, the economy of its employment becomes patent. . If it is desired to administer sufficient of the terment to dissolve 1000 grs. of albumen, obviously gr. of the aforemetioned pepsin will be sufficient. To derive the same therapeutic effect from one for which the manufacturer claims a power of 1200, gr. will be necessary. A power of 1000. I gr.; a power of 900, 1 gr.; a power of 700, 1 gr.; a power of 5co, 2 grs.; a power of 150, 6 grs., while a power of 50 (which is the standard adopted by our Pharmacopoeia), 20 grs. will be necessary. NEW YORK BRANCH: OFFICE, 60 Maiden Lane. PARKE, DAVIS & CO., WAREHOUSE AND SHIPPING DEPOT, 21 Liberty St. Manufacturing Chemists, DETROIT, MICH |