Dose of History – New Year’s in Pharmaceutical Publications

Throughout the decades, many pharmacists have taken the coming of a new year as a time to reflect and predict what the future holds. Many of these musings were published in the trade journals of the day, which often made room for more sentimental topics in addition to business related articles. One such publication is called Druggist’s Circular, which was, during its heyday, one of the most notable in the country. Druggist’s Circular had an impressive lifespan of 84 years, consistently publishing monthly issues from 1857 to 1940. The reflective nature of the articles published in celebration of New Year’s Day make the January editions of Druggist’s Circular an excellent way to sample the general mood of the year. The following is a brief overview of the state of American pharmacy from the years 1916 to 1940, as told by the January editions of Druggist’s Circular. 

In January of 1916, the fighting in World War I hung heavily over reflections of the previous year. Although the United States would not join the war until 1917, American pharmacists were already feeling its effects: the magazine notes that in 1915 the prices of opium, quinine, and glycerin–all staples of an early twentieth century pharmacopeia–increased significantly. Moreover, taxes would go up throughout the year to recoup lost income from overseas trade. After America’s entry into the war, the situation would become even worse. The 1918 New Year’s article notes that “some botanicals are now almost unobtainable at any price” due to the increasing intensity of the war. The author describes the future of pharmacy itself in a dire light, stating that “it is only through the undivided support of her votaries that American Pharmacy can hope to come through the test [of the war] unscathed”. 

In stark contrast to the wartime publications, the January 1919 issue of the circular is nearly ecstatic, with the author stating that the year 1918 will “rank with the great epoch-making periods in the evolution of the human race”. Much of this optimism is attributed to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which occurred just two months prior, ending World War I. Unfortunately, this optimism would be tempered by the Spanish flu pandemic, which had “laid low many druggists, in common with other citizens”. Pharmacists played a key role in combating its spread, but the Spanish flu was still the deadliest pandemic in human history. Seeking a silver lining in every dark cloud, however, the author notes that the pandemic had sparked a movement “in favor of improved sanitary conditions at soda fountains”. 

The tumult of the 1910s would slowly give way to the prosperity of the 1920s. The January 1928 edition of the circular simply states that “last year was a good one in a material way for the retail druggists”, noting the progression of pharmaceutical education and national pharmaceutical organizations. This decade would be prosperous for the magazine, too. The January 1926 issue states that over the course of 1925 “The Druggist’s Circular has been growing in size, in circulation, in influence, and its ability to be of service”. 

The happiness of this period would soon be shattered by the Great Depression, which started in November of 1929. The New Year’s article for 1930 describes the outlook for pharmaceutical business quite bluntly as “none too bright”, but stresses the importance of pharmacy as a trade serving the future of mankind. Other New Year’s articles from the midst of the Depression show a similar sentiment, with the January 1936 edition of Druggist’s Circular featuring a cover reading “The New Year dawns with many problems of unsatisfactory trade conditions still awaiting solution. There is no problem that cannot be solved by earnest, intelligent, constructive purpose and action on the part of the individuals involved”. Despite this resilience, the depression seemingly took its toll on the publication. In 1940, the magazine company Topics acquired the magazine and Druggist’s Circular ceased publication the same year. 

Throughout its lifespan, Druggist’s Circular was subjected to war, prosperity, and depression, yet throughout all of this a stoic determination was kept. The modern day is equally fickle, but the study of history may guide us as we enter territory which is uncharted but sometimes familiar. To conclude, here is a quote from the previously cited January 1915 edition of Druggist’s Circular, written in the midst of World War I: 

“So the year has passed and with it many of our plans. And so have other years passed, and so, doubtless, will many more. But while it is meet for us to pause and look back as we reach the turning point, it is not well that we long remain with our faces toward the past. The future and what it holds in store for us is of more importance to us than something which has passed beyond our recall. Those of us who make the best use of to-day and every day need have small worry about the year just dawning. And those of us who do employ our time to the best advantage will have little of it to spend in crying over what might have been but is not.”

This Dose of History brought to you by Leo Ryan, AIHP Intern.

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Bibliography:

“Nine Hundred and Fifteen.” Druggist’s Circular 61, no. 1 (January, 1916): 1.
“Nine Hundred and Seventeen.” Druggist’s Circular 62, no. 1 (January, 1918): 2.
“At The Beginning of the Year.” Druggist’s Circular 63, no. 1 (January, 1919): 1. 
“Editorial Comment–The Old Year and the New.” Druggist’s Circular 72, no. 1 (January, 1928): 1.
“Editorial Comment–Now For Another Year.” Druggist’s Circular 70, no. 1 (January, 1926): 21.
Cover page. Druggist’s Circular 80, no. 1 (January, 1936).
“Druggist’s Circular Changes Ownership.” Druggist’s Circular 84, no. 11 (November, 1940): 9.