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accumulate these articles without delay, as they are likely to 
occur in commerce far less frequently in the future than has 
been the case in the past, while many forms of adulteration 
will doubtless wholly disappear. Dr. Wiley’s energetic and 
conscientious enforcement of the federal food and drugs act 
bids fair, within a short time, to place our medicinal and food 
supplies upon a basis of purity which could not have been 
anticipated a few years ago 
Among the miscellaneous acquisitions of the year, there is 
an usual percentage of rare or uncommon specimens, and this 
is particularly true in the drug department. 
A matter of exceptional interest has been the receipt of 
specimens of a new rubber-yielding tree of the Mexican foot- 
hills, the investigation of which occupied me during the late 
summer and fall. 
In connection with the above mentioned investigation, a 
small collection of rare Mexican fruits and other economic 
products was obtained for the Museum. 
Late in the year, Mr. Mackie, of this city, presented us 
with an interesting collection of American-grown tobaccos, 
which were exhibited at the Crystal Palace in this city in 
1853. 
A number of the descriptive labels which have been from 
time to time referred to in these reports have now been 
placed in the cases, and have proved their great value as an 
aid to visitors. As an indication of what these labels are 
intended to accomplish, I present herewith two illustrations, 
contrasting each with the ordinary form of label accompany- 
ing our specimens, 
ORDINARY SPECIMEN LABELS 
Corn STARCH 
The —— of the seed of Zea Jays L. 
Fam. Gramin Grass Family 
Native of opel America and widely cultivated. 
