228 BEPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



whose value as medicinal agents have been established by a large expe- 

 rience, and also those preparations and combinations which, from the 

 frequency or convenience of their use, demand that authoritative titles 

 be given them, and such methods of preparation be established as will 

 insure uniformity of strength and composition in all cases. 



"Collectively, then, they include the principal substances used as 

 medicines in civilized countries at the present day. ' Much of the infor- 

 mation regarding these pharmacopoeias was received in answer to letters 

 sent out, through the courtesy of the State and Navy Departments, to 

 the United States ministers and consuls-general resident abroad, and to 

 medical officers of the Navy serving on foreign stations. All but one 

 of the pharmacopoeias of any considerable importance, so far as can be 

 ascertained, are now in the library of the Museum. Much time and labor 

 have been expended during the past year, and considerable progress 

 made, in the preparation of a universal pharmacopoeia, which shall con- 

 tain a list of all the drugs of all the pharmacopoeias, with their full offi- 

 cial synonymy, and tables showing the constituents and comparative 

 strength of all the j^reparations. This work being considered as subor- 

 dinate to that relating to the arrangement and labeling of the collection, 

 progress in it has been slow. 



"4. The collection, in its present state, consists of 3,163 specimens, 

 of which 2,530 are permanently inclosed in standard jars and bottles of 

 the Museum, and 2,150 are arranged in the cases and open to public 

 inspection. Comparatively few duplicates are on hand, consisting 

 chiefly of the small surplus that sometimes remained after filling the 

 exhibition jars. Nearly all the specimens are in excellent condition and 

 are secure from all ordinary causes of deterioration, except such as may 

 come from exposure to light. 



"5. For the further development of the materia medica section, ar- 

 rangements have been completed whereby an herbarium of medicinal 

 plants will soon be obtained. It is proposed to exhibit the more important 

 of these plants, in association with the colored drawings before mentioned, 

 the former to present form and dimensions, the latter color, and details 

 of botanical structure. It is a part of the general plan also to show 

 enlarged drawings representing the minute structure of drugs, wherever 

 structural peculiarities may exist that would aid in the identification of 

 the drug. Promise has been given of a valuable contribution to the 

 collection, to consist of the cinchona alkaloids and other constituents, 

 in their various stages of preparation and combination. It is hoped that 

 some generous and public-spirited manufacturing chemist will undertake 

 the preparation of the corresponding series of the opium jjroducts. Min- 

 eral waters will also find a suitable place in this section, being popular 

 and often efficient remedies in very general use. The plan proposed is 

 to show each in the quantity of 10 liters, and with it its saline constituents 

 in the exact weight which analysis has shown to be present in that 

 volume of the water, thus representing to the eye the quantity of salines 



