124 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [April,. 



institution as this mean but little unless one is familiar with early 

 conditions and those which we face to-day. Many can no doubt 

 remember the cramped antiquated museum building of twenty- 

 five years ago — the scarcity or absolute lack of study material 

 and a single Curator in charge, who from force of circumstances 

 could be little more than a Curator. From this you have seen the 

 development of a great modern museum, with an enormous research 

 collection and a competent staff of specialists constantly engaged in 

 its exploitation and in the preparation of valuable scientific contri- 

 butions for publication in the Academy's Proceedings. 



Such a development can only be effected through the wise direction 

 and economic management of a competent executive. In carrying 

 it out Dr. Dixon gained nothing but the satisfaction of a good work 

 brought to completion, while it entailed on his part an amount of 

 voluntary sacrifice of time and energy that few men feel like giving. 

 These are facts that do not show on the surface and are easily for- 

 gotten, but they should not be lost sight of in estimating the value 

 of such service. 



In June, 1905, Dr. Dixon was appointed Commissioner of Health 

 of Pennsylvania, and immediately began the development of the 

 State department which stands to-day as his greatest monument. 

 Through all these years he maintained his office at the Academy, and 

 many of his plans, especially for the enlargement and improvement 

 of the building, were carried to completion during the period when, 

 the multifarious duties of his larger office were such that most men 

 would have found them alone impossible. Naturall}^, of late years 

 with the activities and responsibilities of the Health Department 

 ever increasing, Dr. Dixon was able to devote less and less time to 

 the Academy, but the planning of earlier years had placed the 

 institution on a basis upon which it ran smoothly and needed less 

 and less the detailed attention of the executive. During his long 

 connection with the Academy Dr. Dixon served upon many of its 

 committees, being Chairman of the Building Committee and also 

 of the Committee in charge of the Centenary Celebration in 1912. 



In March, 1892, he was appointed to act for the Academy in con- 

 junction with the State Board of Health in making a bacteriological 

 exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. He little 

 thought at that time that he would in a few years be head of the 

 department that was to supersede the State Board in caring for 

 the health of the Commonwealth. 



During the early nineties he made several communications and. 



