REPORT OF XATIOX.\L MUSEUM, 1920. 129 



are both members of the Washington branch of the association, the 

 former being Vice-President, the}^ made every effort to acquaint the 

 pliarmacists with Avhat the National ]Mnseum is doing in this direc- 

 tion. Other exhibits installed in the division of medicine during 

 the year comprised the folloAving : 



Tt\o cases devoted to medicines obtained from inorganic mate- 

 rials; two to the subject of essential oils; one showing types of 

 pliarmaceutical balances, ancient and modern: a case showing 

 sources, preparation and uses of two vegetable drugs, cascara sagrada 

 and nux vomica; two cases showing preparation and use of vaccines 

 and serums in combating smallpox, diphtheria, and lockjaw; two 

 models illustrating distillation of essential oils, and a temporary 

 installation of the " Medicinal Forms " exhibit. 



In the section of wood technology the floor cases in the court were 

 rearranged and seven new installations were made coA-ering the fol- 

 lowing subjects: Cork, wood pulp and waste wood products, paper 

 yarn and rugs, basket making machine, California redAvood, and 

 miscellaneous articles made from Avood. 



In the division of textiles nine ncAv installations covering silks, 

 yarns, and knitted fabrics were set up during the year^ 



A model of a peppermint still Avas made in the laboratory of the 

 division, from draAvings and photographs supplied by the foremost 

 flistiller of peppermint oil, and a 4-harness demonstration loom and 

 appliances for Avarping the same Avere constructed under the super- 

 vision of the curator. 



A large part of the time of one preparator was giAcn to the making 

 of gummed-letter labels for the objects in the hospital equipment 

 exhibit, and for the cases in the exhibition halls. 



The cataloging of new specimens has been kept up to date and 

 the entire card catalogue of textiles and fil)ers luive been classified 

 and arranged under subject headings. 



The examination .and indexing of ucav textile terms and other 

 special information contained in the large number of trade papers 

 and periodicals sent to the sectional libraries of textiles, woods, medi- 

 cines, and foods, has occupied the time of the preparators wlien not 

 engaged in other duties. 



The material accumulated betAveen 1881 and 1911, Avhich Avas 

 crowded out from exhibition into storage before the occupation of 

 the Natural History Building, is in need of OA^erhauling. Some of 

 the specimens liaA'e deteriorated through effects of time and changes 

 in temperature, and should be condemned. All of the collections 

 under the care of the curator have been carefully inspected for in- 

 sects, and all the materials like avooIs and foodstuffs haA-e been 

 fumigated several times. Several of the large panels of Philippine 

 !i525°— 20 9 



