| | | HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA | +-----------------------------------------------------+ THE DIXIE DRUGGIST A MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR SOUTHERN DRUGGISTS. “Covers the South like the Sunshine” BLACKWELDER-RIDDLE BUILDING HICKORY, N. C. Vol. 1 May, 1913 No. 2 “Is There a Crisis in the Drug Business” By JOHN I. KELLY A Paper Read Before the Baltimore Retail Druggists Association Monday, March 10, 1913 _Mr. President and Gentlemen_: The subject, “Is There a Crisis in the Drug Business,” which your president has unfortunately selected me to discuss, is so vitally interesting and important to each of you that I suppose there may be a great many here who have given much more thought, and are so far more versed on the subject than I, that any feeble effort of mine would suggest no new thought, supply no new theories or give subject-matter with which you are not already familiar. However, as I have been requested to give a personal opinion, I ask your indulgence, particularly if my efforts do supply nothing new and are only in the nature of a review. The “Crisis in the Drug Business,” referred to and discussed by many, pro and con, seems to pertain particularly to the prescription end of it, and as such will be most considered. “Crisis,” meaning a “vitally important or decisive state of things, the point at which a change must come, either for the better or worse,” somewhat describes the situation, though it has been a gradual evolution, approaching slowly, almost stealthily, until now, aroused, the condition seems acute, apparently a sudden and startling metamorphosis. It may be more properly described, however, as a gradual but decided revolution in conduct and method of business, partly due to natural conditions over which the druggist has no control, and partly to changes which he has been slow to realize and slower to adapt himself. These changes we shall divide into scientific and commercial. Through laboratory research work, modern medical science has progressed to such an extent that in some diseases the form of medication has changed entirely, while in others medication is reduced to a minimum. Chemical combinations, synthetics, biological products, vaccines, etc., have all in a natural sequence deprived the pharmacist of many prescriptions.