42 2 PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



The greatest care must be observed in the preparation of the micro- 

 scopic cabinet, particularly as to the identity of the samples and the labels 

 attached thereto. Nothing is to be included of which the source is in 

 any way questionable. All samples must be obtained from absolutely 

 reliable sources and even then each and every sample must be carefully 

 examined in order to make absolutely certain that it is genuine. Drug 

 samples must be secured from reliable dealers, food and spice samples 

 from reliable merchants; samples of cloth, of furs, of paper, of cordage, 

 etc., from specialists in the several products. The statements of the in- 

 experienced lay man must not be accepted. To illustrate, the owner of a 

 rug may emphatically declare it to be a genuine Bokhara, basing this em- 

 phatic declaration upon the misstatements of an unscrupulous dealer. A 

 sample of ground black pepper may be declared of prime grade or quality 

 by an experienced dealer in spices, whereas it may be made of "grinding 

 peppers." In the case of articles which are believed to be of special im- 

 portance, the source or identity of which is not clearly known, a commer- 

 cially non-prejudiced and non-interested expert, or several such experts, 

 should be consulted. If the article cannot be identified for a certainity, 

 it must be discarded and may not be used for purposes of comparison. 

 It may be filed in a special case for samples of this kind, with the hope 

 that its exact identity may at some future time, be ascertained. The 

 following are suggestions for the formation of a general microanalytical 

 exhibit. 



It is most, important to guard against any excess in the size or bulk 

 of the exhibit; the smallest quantities in the most compact groups, should 

 be the guide. Use the smallest containers which will serve the purpose, 

 and have them of imiform size in so far as possible and practicable. The 

 containers must be easily accessible, the caps, stoppers or other sealing, 

 readily removable and replaceable, without danger of becoming mixed 

 or misplaced or displaced. Too much care cannot be given to the label- 

 ing. The legends thereon must be distinct and legible and sufficiently 

 full and concise, so that the intelligent observer may at once know the 

 meaning or fuU significance. On the other hand, meaningless and wholly 

 useless and mentally confusing details must be omitted from the labels. 



I. Crude and Powdered or Ground Samples. Bulk Samples. — A 

 hard wood cabinet, similar to those which are in use in food and drug 

 laboratories for holding samples of pure foods, spices, vegetable drugs, 

 fiber, powders, chemicals, etc., will serve the purpose excellently. The 

 containers are usually of glass, with screw tops, and rest horizontally in 

 suitable hollow grooves of the drawers. Small rubber stoppered or coik 

 stoppered Homeopathic vials are excellent, if the regulation containers are 

 not available. The cabinet should hold several thousand articles, each 



