Page 97 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND. MANUFACTURES.
L. ORYNSKI— Wholesale Druggist and Manufacturing Pharmaceutist;
302 and 304 Military Plaza, Corner South Flores Street.
The importation, manufacture and dispensing of drugs, medicines and
chemicals .may justly be ranked, at the present day, among the most im-
portant and lucrative branches of business; and there are circumstances
connected with the progress and present condition of its several depart-
ments, which are worthy the attention of the mercantile public. The
original apothecary, in primitive
times, was the practicing physician,
who imported his own supply of
drugs and dispensed them himself. It
has n of been many years since the
legitimate 'druggist was first known
in the ,United States. Bishop, in his
"History of American Manufac-
tures," says: "The war of 1812, and
the commercial restrictions which
preceded it, caused such a scarcity
and dearness of chemicals, that num-
bers attempted the preparation of the
more prominent articles, and the com-
plete establishment of the manufac-
turing business, dates from that
period. Many of these works were
undertaken by foreigners, who had
learned something of chemical. ma-
nipulation in German, French and English factories, or by capitalists
among our own druggists, who made use of foreign skill in getting their
works into operation." The druggist having entered the field, he soon re-
lieved the physician from compounding prescriptions, and thus separated
the apothecary from the mere shop-keeper, and elevated the business to a
professional rank ; and, inasmuch as the business touches the science of
medicine on one hand, and that of chemistry on the other, it may be logic-
ally added that he who is the best educated—who combines worldly com-
mon sense and prudence with scientific skill—is the one destined to be suc-
cessful in the pursuit of wealth. Our purpose in this work is to refer, in
descriptive sketches, to representative houses in every branch, selecting
prominent establishments, as is necessary; considering more particularly
those whose success has made them conspicuous, and gained for the pro-
prietors positions in the mercantile history of the City—the character of a
business man being properly measured by honorable success. The drug
trade of this, or any other city, is one of the most important factors in the
make-up of her commercial interests, and it exercises an influence not out-
measured by any other branch. The establishment of L. Orynski was
founded in 1880, with ample capital, and the house has maintained a posi-