8 Preface 



sometimes suddenly assume importance, as is in- 

 stanced in our own oil of chenopodium as an anthel- 

 mintic. 



The great European war has stimulated the study 

 of our own resources for the production of botanic 

 remedies and the fabrication of chemical ones. 

 Various American universities and large drug houses 

 are undertaking the experimental cultivation of 

 medicinal plants, some three hundred species having 

 been tried out. Many have failed under our con- 

 ditions of soil and climate, but an increasing number 

 of successes are being noted; so that, ultimately, 

 we shall develop a new and promising drug industry. 



And other countries are doing the same thing, 

 in some degree at least. Indeed, as regards botanic 

 remedies, it will be hard to internationalize med- 

 icine, much as this might be desired. 



Definite chemical substances are often made 

 under patented processes, or are marketed under 

 copyrighted trade names; thereby, a stable profit 

 is derived from their exploitation and sale. But 

 preparations derived from botanic drugs are neither 

 patented nor copyrighted, and the profits derived 

 from their sale, not being sufficient to pay for ex- 

 ploitation except in the form of mixed-ingredient 

 proprietary specialties, these botanic remedies are 

 not pushed to the fore. Physicians are not urged 

 to use them, seldom hear of them, and rarely em- 

 ploy them. In fact, many botanic remedies are not 

 available in retail trade, and physicians cease to 

 prescribe them. 



War conditions are changing these relationships 

 of supply and demand; and it is more than prob- 

 able that each country will, hereafter, develop its 



