Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
April,  1900. 
Lands  Where  Drugs  Grow. 
169 
So  far,  only  in  the  case  of  plants  for  which  a  large  industrial 
demand  exists  has  scientific  attention  been  given  to  the  source  of 
supply.  Where  such  attention  has  been  given,  as  in  the  case  of 
drugs  which  produce  essential  oils  and  of  cinchona,  vanilla,  indigo, 
etc.,  the  advantages  of  intelligent  systems  as  compared  with  hap- 
hazard methods  in  the  preparation  of  crude  material  have  been 
strikingly  demonstrated.  The  drugs  which  have  received  little  or 
no  attention  along  these  lines,  if  taken  collectively,  would  involve 
a  large  money  value.  Any  drug  that  is  of  sufficient  importance  to 
be  engrafted  into  the  Pharmacopoeia  or  to  be  used  as  a  life-saving 
agent,  is  worthy  of  study  in  its  every  aspect. 
The  agriculturist  is  more  and  more  becoming  master  of  the  vege- 
table kingdom.  Scientific  agriculture  has  taught  the  grower  how 
he  may  develop  given  products  of  plant-life  forces.  He  can  control 
the  production  of  leaf,  root,  stalk  or  seed ;  can  increase  the  amount 
or  change  the  character  of  starch,  sugar  or  other  compounds ;  he 
is,  in  fact,  master  of  the  specific  functions  of  his  plant. 
If  so  much  can  be  accomplished  with  rye,  oats,  wheat,  corn  and 
potatoes,  why  can  we  not  similarly  treat  jalap,  ipecac  and  a  hun- 
dred other  drugs,  and  gain  control  of  their  extractives,  their  gluco- 
sidal  and  alkaloidal  constituents  ? 
It  would  seem  to  me  that  the  extension  of  the  study  which  has 
been  so  beneficial  to  a  few  of  our  medicinal  plants  would  serve  for 
the  betterment  of  all  of  our  vegetable  materia  medica. 
I  therefore  recommend  extended  studies  of  the  most  useful  med- 
icinal plants,  both  in  their  natural  habitats  and  under  cultivation, 
having  in  view  to  ascertain  the  metabolic  processes  which  enhance 
or  decrease  medicinal  values; 
Also  studies  of  the  changes  which  take  place  in  the  processes 
now  employed  in  the  preparation  of  medicinal  plants  for  the  mar- 
ket, especially  of  those  containing  potent,  active  principles,  such  as 
glucosides,  alkaloids,  etc.; 
The  publication  of  specific  information  as  to  the  propagation, 
cultivation,  collection  and  preparation  of  medicinal  plants,  with  a 
view  to  the  highest  conservation  of  their  medicinal  constituents, 
and  of  securing  more  uniform  production; 
The  publication  by  the  Government  of  statistical  and  specific 
information  as  to  the  sources  of  leading  vegetable  drugs  (especially 
such  as  are  imported),  with  information  as  to  the  methods  of  prepa- 
ration and  commerce; 
