11 
best known, in this country, and until some definite and generally 
accepted understanding relating to abbreviations for the titles of 
current journals is agreed to, might well be even more generally 
adhered to. 
In attempting to consult a representative number of journals and 
periodical publications it was found that for various reasons the rep- 
resentative libraries of this country are particularly deficient in cur- 
rent pharmaceutical literature. To overcome this deficiency an effort 
is now being made to develop, in connection with the compilation of 
abstracts, a representative reference library of current pharmaceutical 
and chemical literature. 
The proceedings of the several state pharmaceutical associations 
are particularly difficult to obtain, and the officials of the Public 
Health and Marine-Hospital Service are to be congratulated on 
having been able to secure the cooperation of a number of the 
officers of these several organizations and obtain from them a fairly 
representative collection of the current numbers of their proceedings. 
As yet this collection is far from complete, and the Chief of the 
Division of Pharmacology of the Hygienic Laboratory, Washington, 
will be pleased to hear from anyone who is willing to contribute 
toward the completion of the files of pharmaceutical or chemical 
journals or of state pharmaceutical association proceedings. 
In conclusion, the compilers wish to express their own appreciation 
of the shortcomings of the compilation as presented, and beg to 
assure the members of the medical and pharmaceutical professions 
thut comments on the method of presenting the material will be wel- 
come, and that, so far as they are able, they will endeavor to profit by 
any suggestions that may be offered for improving the style or the 
contents of future bulletins. 
M. I. W. 
M. G. M. 
Division of Pharmacology, 
Hygienic Laboratory, 
March , 1909. 
