568 
MINUTES  OF  THE  COLLEGE. 
Our  idea  is  to  have  the  whole  herbarium  preserved  in  a  similar  manner 
to  the  specimens  presented  by  Professor  Thomas,  and  to  keep  them  in 
cases  like  those  upon  the  table.  When  put  up  in  this  manner,  the  plants 
will  be  less  liable  to  injury,  their  value  for  the  purposes  of  the  College  will 
be  greatly  enhanced,  and  the  herbarium  assume  its  proper  importance 
among  the  other  valuable  collections  of  the  College.  Sections  of  differ- 
ent organs,  where  they  are  important,  and  notes  on  the  habitat,  the  time 
of  flowering,  the  synonyms  in  Latin  and  English,  and,  probably,  in  other 
modern  languages ;  the  names  of  plants  which  are  used  as  adulterations, 
or  with  which  they  might  be  comfounded ;  this,  and  probably  other  in- 
formation might  be  added,  whereby  the  usefulness  of  the  collection  would 
be  increased  manyfold. 
We  are  aware  that  this  work  would  be  an  undertaking  occupying  many 
years  to  come ;  but  we  sincerely  believe  that  it  will  result  in  a  vast  bene- 
fit to  our  institution. 
To  aid  the  Professors  in  their  lectures  on  the  various  branches  taught 
in  the  College,  we  are  of  the  opinion  that  a  separate  collection  ou^ht  to 
be  made  of  such  plants  as  have  been,  or  are  at  present,  officinal  in  our 
Pharmacopoeia,  or  products  of  which  are  employed  in  medicine ;  and  we, 
therefore, 
5.  Propose,  that  a  collectio  plantarum  officinarum  be  prepared  by  the 
Committee  on  Botany,  the  plants  to  be  mounted  in  a  similar  manner  as 
before  indicated. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 
Jno.  M.  Maisch,  Chairman. 
Wm.  K.  Warner, 
On  behalf  of  the  Committee. 
Philadelphia,  Sept.  24th,  I860." 
The  reading  of  this  report  called  forth  a  general  expression  of  satisfac- 
tion with  the  zeal  and  efficiency  of  this  Committee ;  on  motion,  it  was  ac- 
cepted, and  the  Committee  continued  for  the  next  six  months.  Professor 
Procter  was  released  from  the  service  at  his  own  request. 
On  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Committee  be  authorized  to  enter 
into  the  correspondence  and  make  the  exchanges  mentioned  in  their 
report. 
On  motion,  it  was  resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Trustees  are  instructed 
to  procure  a  microscope,  as  suggested  by  the  Committee,  and  to  aid  them 
in  carrying  out  the  proposals  of  the  Report  as  far  as  practicable. 
The  following  proposal  for  a  new  law  of  the  College  was  submitted  by 
James  T.  Shinn  and  A.  B.  Taylor,  and  on  motion  directed  to  lie  on  the 
table  till  the  next  meeting,  as  required  by  the  laws  : 
"Law  X.  of  the  Herbarium. — A  standing  committee  of  five  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  College  at  the  meeting  in  September,  to  keep  the  Her- 
barium in  order,  to  collect  plants,  to  place  them  in  condition  to  be  used 
in  lectures  on  Botany,  Materia  Medica,  Pharmacy,  &c. ;  to  effect  ex~ 
