120 REPORT OF XATIO^^AL MUSEUM, ll>20. 



Ouing to a recent wiilespread and growing interest on the part 

 of the consuming public for all kinds of knitted fabrics, several of 

 the most important manufacturers of this class of fabrics were 

 invited to send samples to the National Museum for exhibition in 

 comparison with woven textiles. Generous responses Avere received 

 from six firms, five in Xew York City and one in Woonsocket, Rhode 

 Island, resulting in the following additions to the collections: From 

 jVlicliel and Krieger. seven samples of tricolette, H. R. Mallinson and 

 Company. Incorporated, three samples of deluxknit, and Haas 

 Brothers Fabrics Corporation, two samples of trico silks, all knitted 

 from artificial silk yarn ; from the Princess Textile Mills, Incor- 

 porated, eight samples of angora fabrics knitted from worsted, mo- 

 hair, alpaca. camePs hair, and mixed yarns: from the Knit Fabrics 

 (^om]3any, through its selling agent C. H. Guggenheimer, four 

 samples of wool and worsted jersey cloths; and from the Gold Mark 

 Knitting Com2:)any, Woonsocket. Rhode Island, six samples of w'ool 

 and worsted jersey fabrics for Avomen's and boys' clothing. These 

 specimens are varied as to raw material, construction, weight and 

 design, and enable the Museum visitor to get some idea of the exten- 

 sive range of this class of fabrics. 



A series of specimens and photographs illustrating the program 

 of physical reconstruction and rehabilitation for American soldiers 

 disabled in the Great War, as carried on in military hospitals under 

 the direction of the Surgeon General, U. S. Army, was transferred 

 to the Museum by the Reconstruction Aid Service of the War De- 

 }>artment. The curative work shown by this exhibit was of two 

 kinds: (a) Occupational-Therapy, and (b) Physio-Therapy, 



Before the crippled soldier Avas able to leaAe his bed, depressiAe 

 thoughts AAere dispelled by handicraft Avork, weaving, knitting, 

 beadwork; basketry, etc., and his convalescence immeasurably has- 

 tened. The class room and shop then gaAe the Avounded veterans 

 tasks that brought stiffened joints and muscles into action again, 

 occup3'ing their minds and opening new Aocational fields. By 

 Physio-Therapy Avas meant treatment by other than medical methods, 

 and it Avas subdivided into Hydro-Therapy, Electro-Therapy, Mas- 

 sage, Medical Exercises, and Mechano-Therapy. As early as pos- 

 sible these treatments Avere applied by Reconstruction Aids in Physio- 

 Therapj'' for the relief of pain, the limbering of stiff joints, and the 

 restoration of certain types of paraljv.ed extremities. The speci- 

 mens of handiAvork done by crippled men under this program in- 

 cluded examples of weaving, knitting, Avood carving, jewelry, metal 

 Avorking, pottery, basketry, and toys. 



Of the material Avhicli Avas assigned to the division of medicine 

 during the year, the most imjjortant for the purpose of exhibition 

 was that contributed by Parke, Davis and Company of Detroit, 



