Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1921. 
Biological  Exploration. 
441 
largely  to  diseases  caused  by  insects  and  parasites  of  various  kinds, 
which  sap  the  vitality  of  the  people. 
Dr.  Hoffman's  efforts  will  be  directed  toward  the  accumulation 
and  correlation  of  as  much  information  as  possible  on  these  subjects. 
In  fact  it  is  planned  to  stress  the  economic  phases  of  the  entire  work 
of  the  expedition  with  the  aim  of  adding  much  to  the  knowledge 
necessary  before  any  practical  means  can  be  employed  to  lessen  mor- 
tality; to  improve  the  environment  and  to  make  life  more  comfort- 
able and  worth  living  under  tropical  conditions. 
From  the  library  of  the  Prudential  Insurance  Company  at 
Newark,  the  expedition  has  been  supplied  with  copies  of  the  latest 
maps  of  the  regions  to  be  visited,  and  copies  of  important  publica- 
tions and  records  of  previous  expeditions  and  notes  on  the  tropical 
diseases  occurring  there — all  of  which  will  contribute  greatly  to  the 
success  of  the  work. 
The  change  in  the  date  of  departure  has  made  necessary  a  com- 
plete reversal  of  itinerary,  in  order  to  take  advantage  of  the  dry  sea- 
son north  and  south  of  the  equator.  Dr.  Rusby  and  party  will  pro- 
ceed directly  to  La  Paz,  Bolivia,  from  which  city  they  will  set  out 
about  July  1st,  their  first  objective  being  the  town  of  Rurenabaque, 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Andes.  Here  temporary  headquarters  will 
be  established  while  the  surrounding  regions  are  being  explored. 
Some  of  the  party  will  proceed  thither  via  the  La  Paz  River,  mak- 
ing collections  en  route  in  previously  untouched  territory.  Others 
of  the  party,  with  the  main  portion  of  the  cargo,  will  go  by  way  of 
the  Guggenheim  Alines  of  the  Bopi  River.  The  first  part  of  this 
journey  is  over  a  fine  automobile  road  built  by  the  Guggenheim 
Brothers  to  their  large  mines  near  Asunto.  Both  Mr.  Daniel  and 
Mr.  Murray  Guggenheim  are  active  and  generous  officers  and  man- 
agers of  the  New  York  Botanical  Gardens,  and  are  largely  interested 
in  this  expeditidn.  They  have  promised  every  assistance  that  their 
representatrves  in  Bolivia  can  render. 
The  next  objective  will  be  Lake  Rocagua,  in  which  region  they 
expect  to  spend  a  month  or  more  exploring  and  collecting.  Other 
important  collections  will  be  made  in  the  Valleys  of  the  Rio  Beni 
and  the  Mamore.  The  Mamore  River  will  be  visited  with  the  special 
object  of  exploring  the  region  which  yields  Brazilian  Ipecac.  Tem- 
porary headquarters  will  next  be  established  at  Villa  Bella,  the  west- 
ern terminus  of  the  Madeira-Mamore  Railroad.    The  party  will  so 
