114 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1U19. 



eral operating room; the equipment for sterilization of bandages, 

 instruments, etc., the apparatus and instruments used in operating 

 a dental clinic and laboratory ; and various types of equipment used 

 in the field to preserve the health of the soldier and care for the 

 wounded. To this last group belong two large specimens on wheels 

 which have a general interest: The liberty kitchen, for preparing 

 and serving hot food to the men on the front line; and a portable 

 disinfector, capable of disinfecting the clothing and bedding of a 

 company of men by means of live steam, formaldehyde, or ammonia 

 gas. 



Several important accessions received during the year represent 

 gifts of specimens and books for the historical section of the divi- 

 sion of medicine. Included in the plan for illustrating the develop- 

 ment of the healing arts were exhibits intended to demonstrate the 

 fundamental principles of different schools of medicine. To the 

 average person health and disease are terms which define conditions, 

 one desirable and the other to be avoided. Little thought is given 

 the problems which perplex scientists and divide the medical profes- 

 sion into great factions and schools. Inquiry is often made, how- 

 ever, concerning the salient features of the different schools of medi- 

 cine, and the division of medicine has undertaken the task of illus- 

 trating the history and principles of the more important of these 

 schools by means of specimens, charts, and photographs. In pre- 

 paring these exhibits the Museum assumes a neutral attitude so 

 far as the relative merits of one school compared with another is 

 concerned, the object being to show the most conspicuous and dis- 

 tinguishing features, so that a comparison of each series of speci- 

 mens would demonstrate wherein the schools differ in theory and 

 practice. A beginning has been made with exhibits to illustrate 

 homeopathy and the eclectic school. The opportunity thus offered 

 was brought to the attention of The American Institute of Home- 

 opathy by Dr. W. A. Dewey of the Homeopathic Medical School, 

 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Doctor Dewey was 

 designated to cooperate with the ISIuseum in the work, and much 

 credit is due him for the valuable assistance which he has rendered. 

 Additions to the collections b}'- gift through his efforts are as follows: 



From Doctor Dewey, 23 specimens of photographs, engravings^ 

 etc., Boericke & Tafel (Inc.), Philadelphia, Permsylvania, 123 

 specimens of chemical, mineral, metallic, Acgetablc, and animal 

 pharmaceutical products in the different forms in which they are 

 administered, namely, tinctures, dilutions, globules, tablets, disks, 

 and pellets, and four colored plates of medicinal plants with de- 

 scriptive texts, together with a small model of the Washington 

 Hahnemann Monument; Dr. J. B. Gregg Custis, of Washington, 



