122  The  Laboratory  in  War  Time.  {^ebmary^g™* 
"Mace.  The  inner  coating  of  the  nutmeg.  It  is  a  good  flavoring  for 
meats,  cream  soups,  puddings  and  sweets." 
"  Oregano.   An  herb  much  used  in  seasoning  soups  and  stews." 
"Saffron.  The  petals  of  a  flowering  plant  of  a  deep  orange  color.  Made 
into  a  tea  and  added  to  dough  or  stew,  etc." 
It  is  extremely  probable,  indeed  the  internal  evidences  are  com- 
pelling, that  the  definitions  were  drawn  up  by  a  cook,  probably  one 
who  had  seen  service  on  the  Mexican  border,  for  "  Comina "  and 
"Oregano"  are  Spanish  names  for  cumin  and  marjoram. 
Could  anything  illustrate  better  the  evils  that  result  from  failure 
to  coordinate  and  cooperate  in  the  interests  of  accuracy  and  effi- 
ciency, than  a  perusal  of  the  above?  Could  any  argument  be  more 
powerful  in  favor  of  having  all  details  in  governmental  work 
handled  by  those  most  familiar  with  them,  than  thoughtful  con- 
sideration of  the  foregoing  examples? 
Perhaps  a  study  of  some  of  the  other  Departmental  manuals 
would  reveal  similar  defects,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  multiply  in- 
stances to  convince,  any  intelligent  person  that  the  idea  of  omnis- 
cience that  seems  to  obsess  so  many  government  officials  could  be 
replaced  to  advantage  by  a  willingness  and  desire  to  do  what  is 
right  and  do  it  correctly. 
C.  H.  LaW. 
THE  LABORATORY  IN  WAR  TIME. 
By  Dr.  Fred  B.  Kilmer,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 
The  editor  has  asked  me  to  send  him  some  notes  upon  the  work 
of  a  pharmaceutical  laboratory  in  war  time.  It  might  be  tersely 
expressed  by  saying  that  the  labors  of  the  laboratory  in  these  times 
are  "  just  one  thing  after  another."  When  one  arrives  at  his  post 
in  the  morning  he  may  anticipate  that  almost  anything  is  liable  to 
occur  before  the  close  of  the  day. 
When  the  war  broke  out  there  was  a  general  scramble.-  Every- 
body began  to  buy,  hit  or  miss.  If  a  person  had  anything  to  sell  he 
sold  it  at  almost  any  price.  There  was  at  once  a  shortage  of  raw 
material — drugs,  chemical  supplies  of  all  sorts,  corks,  vials,  paper, 
ink,  labels,  tinware,  lumber  and,  in  fact,  everything  that  went  to 
make  up  the  wares  of  the  manufacturer.  So  great  was  this  short- 
age that  at  times  systematic  collections  were  made  from  retail  stocks, 
