144 REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



mere matter of chance ; but a great deal can be done to expedite the 

 accomplishment of the object. 



Much time has been already devoted to the large descriptive cata- 

 logue which we contemplate writing, and which is intended not only 

 as a guide for the general visitor and the student of medicine aud phar- 

 macy resident at Washington, but which shall also give to druggists 

 and non-resident medical men valuable information on all the rare drugs 

 contained in the collection. This work has been progressing but slowly 

 for the reason that the library of this section of the Museum is not yet 

 provided with the books which are indispensable to complete a work of 

 this kind. 



The remainder of the routine work consists in registering, examining, 

 identifying, and bottling the specimens which are from time to time 

 sent in for exhibition purposes. The writing of labels for new speci- 

 mens, as well as making constant improvements on old ones, is a con- 

 tinuous source of work. 



The invasion of the specimens by insects is prevented in the usual 

 way, by placing blotting-paper, moistened with chloroform, into the 

 respective bottles, and this process so far has answered the purpose 

 very well indeed. 



A list of the papers published in relation to the material and work 

 of fchis department has been furnished for the bibliograrjhy, and it is 

 therefore unnecessary to repeat them in this place. 



Up to last year the arrangement of the specimens was only accord- 

 ing to the natural orders as they are found in Bentham and Hooker's 

 Genera Plantarum. The change which has been made this year in the 

 classification is deemed of seme importance, i. #., that each genus is 

 placed in the order in which it occurs in the above-mentioned work. 



The number of specimens now on exhibition is 3,326, of which 1,457 

 liave printed specific labels. In order to enable the curator to label 

 the remainder of the collection, a few more books of reference must be 

 provided. The illustration of the specimens by properly mounted col- 

 ored plates and herbarium plants is still in progress, aud will occupy a 

 few months more. 



The following is a list of specimens, representing the more important 

 and rare drugs which were received and entered on the register : 



FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA. 



Ainyris balsaniifera. Cissampelos Pereira. 



Mucuua pruriens. Cyperus articulatus. 



Cassia oborata. Capparis cynophallopkora. 



Calotropis gigantea. Smilax china. 



Rhizopbora mangle. Mikania guaco. 



Ipomoea purga. Bocconia frutesceus. 



Avicennia uitida. Croton cascarilla. 



Gouania domingensis. Andira inermis. 

 Laguucularia racemosa. 



