The cost of drugs: 1890

"...as a matter of simple justice to the retail trade, proprietors should decline all orders for quantity lots from persistent advertising cutters, whose policy is to use the extra discount, not for profit, but as a means of advertising their retail trade, selling at cost or less, to the annoyance and injury of legitimate druggists, who purchase in the usual quantities required by retailers."

--From Proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association--

Certain retailers were buying medicine in bulk and getting a discount; but instead of pocketing the savings, they were cutting prices for their customers. And the pharmaceutical companies wanted the practice stopped. People were concerned about the price of drugs--being too low!