[Proceedings United States Natioral Museum, 1883, Appendix.] 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 
No. 20. 
REQUEST FOR SPECIMENS OF DRUGS AND INFORMATION CONCERN: 
ING THEM. 
DEAR SIR: 
The accompanying method of arrangement and list of specimens 
has been prepared to show the present condition of the materia medica 
section of the U. 8S. National Museum. 
The deficiencies of the collection are made evident by this exhibi- 
tion of its possessions. 
The Museum will be pleased to reecive specimens of drugs, and 
their natural and commercial varieties, which do not appear by name in 
the catalogue. Contributions will be properly accredited to the donors 
on the labels. 
Information regarding the source, habitat, mode of production, 
physical peculiarities, and history of any specimen, will add much to 
its value. 
For the collection, as at present constituted, the Museum is largely 
indebted to the generosity of a few of the principal wholesale druggists 
of the country, notably W. H. Schieffelin & Co , New York, McKesson & 
Robbins, New York, Parke, Davis & Co., Detroit, and Wallace Brothers, 
Statesville, N.C. It is hoped that other firms, and individuals as well, 
who may have or receive drugs or varieties not represented in our 
list, will feel sufficient interest in this national collection to contribute 
toward its completeness. 
Very respectfully, 
SPENCER F. BAIRD, 
Director. 
(477) 
