Edwin V. Blackman letter to Dr. Henry Milton Whelpley - January 17, 1919

Transcript

Parma, [Missouri] [January] 17, [1919] Dr. [Henry Milton] Whelpley, Editor, Meyer [Brothers] Druggist, St. Louis [Missouri] Dear Sir:- Just a line to let you know where one of your former and also future pupil is. I was discharged from the army post of Washington University on December 11th. I came home and went back to work in the store with my dad. We have been very busy since the flu started. On some days we filled as many as a hundred prescriptions, which keeps a small town story busy. The outlook here at the beginning of the pandemic was very bad. We had one Doctor left, the others having gone to the army. This doctor became sick and for several days the community was doctorless and the druggists were both prescribers and compounders. I believe that people have appreciated the usefulness and the necessity of having a drug store more in the last few months than they ever did before. Often the druggists have been called from their beds at night to fill prescriptions, many times knowing that they would never recieve a penny for their work. But the people needed medicine and someone had to give it. This has been true in every part of the United States I believe. Our mayor telegraphed to Governor Gardner for aid, and a physician (Captain Yount) of Gape Girardeau was sent down to relieve us. Then another physician was obtained and the situation was finally controlled. For weeks there were as many as four or five deaths in one day. And hardly a day passed without one death. While I was in the army I found out what every soldier learns sooner or later if he has dealings with the Medical Department. That is, that Tincture of Iodine is the most used preparation in the army, with Epsom Salts and C.C. pills following. Aspirin and other powders are used a great deal in capsule form. I saw no powders in papers while I was in the army, but I suppose that they are used. I expect to be back in school this fall along with my friend J.L. Brown of Peoria. Mr. Brown had the great misfortune to lose his father last November. I intend to take the State Board for Assistant Pharmacist in April at Kansas City. Will there be an announcement of the date in the Druggist? Wishing all success to you and to my friends at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, I will close. Yours Resp., Edwin V. Blackman. P.S. Will you please send me the bulletins of the College whenever they are published. E.B.