Am.  Tour.  Pharm.  \ 
June,  19 18.  1 
Medicinal  Plant  Supplies. 
405 
been  subjected  to  more  uncertainty  and  suffered  greater  incon- 
venience than  the  drug  trade.  Due  to  national  and  international 
conditions,  there  has  been  a  shortage  and  restriction  in  crude  drugs 
of  all  kinds.  Transportation  on  land  has  been  restricted  and  upon 
the  sea  it  was  uncertain,  and  every  time  a  steamer  was  sunk  on  the 
ocean  dealers  knew  that  some  drugs  were  on  the  vessel  and  that 
there  would  be  a  corresponding  shortage.  In  spite  of  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes a  call  was  sent  throughout  the  country  to  the  drug  trade  to 
comply  with  the  government's  demands  and  as  a  result  the  medical 
and  surgical  supplies  were  given  precedence  in  every  instance. 
This  remarkable  condition  of  affairs  was  brought  about  by  the 
temperament  of  the  average  American  business  man  to  improve  his 
opportunities.  When  it  was  seen  that  there  was  an  opportunity  for 
the  expansion  of  business  and  the  possibility  of  world  trade  he  with 
his  usual  perspicacity  seized  upon  it  most  effectively.  He  increased 
his  capital  and  assisted  in  the  perfecting  of  existing  organizations, 
so  that  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  in  April,  1917,  all  interests  were 
coordinated  and  all  the  drug  forces  were  mobilized.  As  to  how 
effective  this  work  of  organization  had  been  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  our  exports  had  increased  from  about  $46,000,000  in  191 5  to 
nearly  $200,000,000  during  the  fiscal  year  of  1917.  It  should  also 
be  stated  that  while  this  initiative  was  being  taken  and  notwith- 
standing our  resources  were  taxed  to  the  utmost  that  the  manu- 
facturers adjusted  their  buying  and  selling  so  that  there  was  a  fair 
distribution  of  crude  materials  and  an  opportunity  afforded  every 
industry  to  expand  to  its  utmost.  A  finer  example  of  the  benefits 
of  democracy  has  never  been  demonstrated  in  the  history  of  the 
United  States.  While  this  mobilization  of  industrial  forces  was 
looked  upon  as  a  matter  of  good  business,  just  as  soon  as  war  was 
declared  it  was  apparent  that  it  was  to  be  utilized  for  the  benefit  of 
the  nation.  Upon  the  United  States  entering  the  war  the  Manu- 
facturers of  Medicinal  and  Surgical  Supplies  immediately  offered 
their  services  for  the  nation's  defense.  Conferences  were  held  be- 
tween the  Committee  on  Preparedness  of  the  American  Drug  Manu- 
facturers' Association  and  the  Committee  on  Medical  and  Surgical 
Supplies  of  the  Council  for  National  Defense.  The  initial  meetings 
were  held  on  Saturday  afternoon  and  evening  and  Easter  Sunday 
morning  in  1917,  and  plans  were  worked  out  which  have  since  been 
successfully  in  operation.  It  might  seem  that  the  question  of  medi- 
cal supplies  was  of  minor  importance,  and  yet  no  single  orders  for 
