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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF 
THE LABORATORIES 
Dr. N. L. Brarrton, DrrEcTorR-IN-CHIEF. 
Str: I have the honor to present herewith my report for 
the year ending December 31, 1906. 
During the interval between January 1 and February 1, 
when my appointment took effect, the laboratories were 
under the general supervision of the First Assistant, Dr. W. 
A. Murrill, with the assistance of Miss Alice A. Knox. 
When I entered upon my duties I found the laboratories 
and apparatus in excellent condition, and fifteen investigators 
registered. In addition to continuing my researches, which 
had been in progress at the Garden for nearly a year and a 
half, I at once gave my attention to administrative duties. 
The conversion of the former apparatus room into the office 
of the First Assistant necessitated a rearrangement of some of 
the apparatus. The wall case of glass apparatus was trans- 
ferred to the chemical laboratory, and the autoclave to the 
physiological room. The delicate analytical balances were 
removed from a table and placed on a stone shelf fastened 
firmly to the wall by metal brackets, thus making their accu- 
rate adjustment easier and less liable to disturbance. Re- 
agent bottles of uniform size and style for holding stock re- 
agents have been placed in the chemical laboratory, and the 
appearance of the physiological laboratory has been improved 
by staining and painting the experiment stands. 
The increase in the number of investigators has made de- 
sirable a closer regulation of the use of material and of gen- 
eral apparatus, in order to keep a more satisfactory account 
of the stock on hand, and of the needs of the laboratory. 
To facilitate this a card catalogue has been prepared of all 
investigators now at work, and, incidentally, of all registered 
students since the laboratories were first opened. Each name 
card, with its data, is accompanied by an ‘‘ apparatus card,” 
indicating what laboratory apparatus has been assigned to the 
