Am.  Jour.  Pharm. ) 
February,  1898  j 
In  the  Land  of  Ginger. 
85 
of  artificial  heat  for  drying,  machinery  for  peeling,  will  have  a  tend- 
ency to  deprive  the  peasantry  of  a  source  of  income,  and  this,  so  far  as 
these  investigations  show,  will  not  improve  the  quality  of  the  product. 
The  Botanical  Department,  through  its  corps  of  agricultural  in- 
structors, is  now  going  among  the  people  and  showing  them  exactly 
what  may  be  done  in  the  way  of  improving  their  methods  of  culti- 
vation. The  Jamaica  Agricultural  Society  is  conducting  practical 
and  extensive  demonstrations  to  show  the  use  and  value  of  fertil- 
izers. These  have  already  an  important  bearing  upon  this  crop.  In- 
formation recently  to  hand  states  that  the  crop  which  will  be  gath- 
ered in  the  coming  season  (Spring,  1898)  will  probably  be  the  lar- 
gest ever  grown  upon  the  Island.  This  is  due  to  the  improvements 
in  cultivation,  together  with  an  abundant  rainfall.  Unfortunately 
for  the  ginger  planter,  a  largely-increased  production  will  tend  to 
lower  prices. 
I  am  aware  of  the  fact  that  these  notes  will  add  but  little  to  the 
already  recorded  observations  upon  ginger.  It  may  be  questioned 
whether  such  a  common  article  of  materia  medica  merits  any  ex- 
tended research.  We  should,  however,  realize  that  any  drug  that 
holds  a  name  and  place  in  medicine  is  of  sufficient  importance  to 
merit  our  best  efforts. 
Our  knowledge  of  the  changes  which  take  place  in  crude  drugs, 
due  to  the  methods  of  preparation,  is  very  meagre.  Karl  Dieterich 
(Berichte  der  Deutschen  Pharm.  Gesellschaft,  1896,  p.  jjj)  says : 
"  Thus  it  is  that  I  am  convinced  that  the  study  and  development 
of  this  branch  of  pharmacy  will  yield  far  more  than  theoretical  re- 
sults and  that  the  analysis  of  fresh  and  dried  drugs  at  different 
stages  will  be  of  great  practical  advantage  in  directing  the  proper 
manipulations  to  be  employed  in  producing  uniform  and  superior 
products."  My  convictions  are  strong  that  the  study  of  drugs 
should  begin  in  their  habitat  and  extend  to  the  bedside  of  the 
patient.  That  it  is  important  to-  know  every  change  that  may  take 
place  in  their  cultivation  and  collection  as  well  as  those  incident  to 
their  preparation  for  administration,  this  seems  to  be  sufficient  war- 
rant for  these  observations  taken  in  the  Land  of  Ginger — Jamaica.1 
preparing  this  paper,  valuable  assistance  has  been  rendered  the  writer  by 
those  whose  names  are  mentioned  therein.  In  addition,  he  feels  indebted  to 
His  Excellency,  Henry  A.  Blake,  Governor  of  Jamaica  ;  to  the  Hon.  Q.  O.  Eck- 
ford,  ex-United  States  Consul;  to  George  A.  Douet,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the 
Jamaica  Agricultural  Society  ;  to  L.  Frazer,  of  Montego  Bay,  and  many  others. 
