IGS TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



fulness which made for productivity equal to the needs required. Those who 

 have any knowledge of the situation which confronted lis at the time of onr 

 entry into the war, knowing how each need was met on a fairly lavish scale, 

 will no donbt be willing to admit that, with regard to the matei-ial necessary 

 for carrying on the war. we were prepared to meet every exigency. In con- 

 nection with this development new industries were created, and some which 

 had been experimental in the past were established on a commercial basis. 

 Among the newer phases of activity thus developed, none was of greater 

 interest than our al)ility, independently, to produce and manufacture the 

 medicines which were deemed necessary by our army. 



One of the most fundamental questions which we must consider almost 

 immediately is to what extent we should relinquish the vantage point we haA'e 

 attained and go back to our pre-war practice of depending on foreign coimtries 

 for not only raw but manufactured materials as well. I may not be a prophet, 

 but I have sufficient optimism to believe that the old dependent conditions will 

 not prevail, and that manufacturers realize that in the interest of our country 

 we must be more independent of other nations. At the present time trade and 

 industry are in an unsettled condition, and large projects are not being under- 

 taken to any extent because peace has not yet been actually established. I 

 have seen figures of the contemplated improvements in various projected enter- 

 prises which are of a gigantic character, and we feel that we are approaching 

 a new era in which the pioneer will work with the capitalist, and in which 

 a truly rational condition will prevail. 



For some years now I have felt that it was desirable for us to cultivate 

 very many if not all of the really important medicinal plants. This principle 

 is soimd and tenable ; in the interest of imiformity of drugs and progress in 

 the action of medicines. Furthermore, our supplies ai'e becoming depleted, 

 and in some cases are even now almost exterminated. It is important that we 

 understand the extent of the problem and the object to be attained in order 

 that we may attack it in an effective manner. I think that it is largely due 

 to our lack of perspective that we have not made greater progress. Of course, 

 it is always necessary in a new venture to make a demonstration of facts to 

 support the thesis. I have called attention (Amc7-ican Journals of Pharmacy, 

 1918, Vol. 80, pp. 404-415) to what was accomplished during the war. What 

 may further be undertaken can be determined only by experiment. The 

 history of the cultivation of plants yielding industrial products is rather 

 anomalous. For instance, there are certain plant products, which it may seem 

 for the moment are confined to certain geographical centers, as the growing 

 of cinchona, rublier, coffee and spices. Yet even these are being more widely 

 known constantly for commercial reasons, and at present it is rather difficult 

 to tell just which countries are producuig our commercial supplies. The 

 original home of cinchona was in South America, and it is only recently that 

 any attempt has l:een made to restore this industry to this part of the world. 



