BUKEAU OF CHEMISTRY. 457 



was raised. To provide data for deciding this question, grinders 

 were visited and samples collected which are also being studied for 

 the purpose of developing methods of estimating the amount of 

 stems present. 



ROUTINE WORK. 



The routine work of the laboratory has consumed a large part 

 of the attention of the laboratory force. In general, these examina- 

 tions may be di\'ided into two classes, namely, interstate samples 

 under the enforcement of the food and drugs act, and, second, 

 miscellaneous samples for the various other laboratories in the 

 bureau and department, and also for other branches of the Govern- 

 ment service. 



The amount of work done for various branches or departments 

 of the Government has greatly increased, the Post Office Depart- 

 ment, Geological Survey, Census Bureau, Navy Department, 

 Isthmian Canal Commission, Government Printing Office, Bureau of 

 Engraving and Printing, General Supply Committee, Department of 

 Commerce and Labor, Smithsonian Institution, the District govern- 

 ment, and others sending samples. Collaborative work has also 

 been done with the different laboratories of the Bureau. 



The following tabulated fist of the samples examined during the 

 year is complete mth the exception of some of the samples studied 

 during special investigations, and shows the wide range of materials 

 examined as well as the volume of the work: 



Miscellaneous samples: 



Food (sago, tapioca, fruits, nuts, spices, coffee, tomato products, 



infant foods, etc.) 809 



Papers. 3, 708 



Insecticides 777 



Drugs. 60 



Cattle foods 34 



Dextrin and paste 11 



Paint pigments 14 



Alkaloids 22 



Textiles 506 



Typewriter ribbons 18 



Scouring mixtures, water, seeds, etc 96 



Total 6,055 



Interstate samples: 



Fruit^=i, nuts, and their products 240 



Tomato products 496 



Cattle foods 374 



Eggs 216 



Spices and condiments 69 



Fish products 61 



Dnigs 66 



Alkaloidal substances 43 



Teas, coffee, etc 39 



Sago, tapioca, meat products, etc 206 



Total interstate samples 1, 810 



Total for year 7, 865 



CONTRACT SUPPLIES. 



The work of the contracts laboratory during the past year has been 

 been very similar to that of the preceding years. The constant 

 demand for results of examinations at the earliest possible moment 



