REPORT OF NATIONAL. MUSEUM, 1923. Ill 



The examination and indexing of new textile terms and other 

 special information contained in the large number of trade papers 

 and periodicals received by the sectional libraries of textiles, woods, 

 medicine, and foods, have occupied the time of the preparators when 

 not engaged in other duties. 



In the division of medicine new labels were made to take the place 

 of those soiled by exposure, particularly those describing the speci- 

 mens in the war collection in the Natural History Building. The 

 preserving fluid on the fresh anatomical specimens was changed dur- 

 ing the year. 



Ten permanent installations were set up in the division of textiles 

 during the year. These included an industrial exhibit illustrating 

 processes in the manufacture of plain, printed, and inlaid linoleum, 

 which replaced a similar exhibit of an earlier date; a series of stand- 

 ardized, pure dye silk fabrics and garments made therefrom which 

 had been subjected to wearing tests; specimens of printed and tigured 

 mohair pile fabrics ; African wild silk ; additions to the cotton thread 

 case, carded woolen goods series, and novelty silk fabrics display; 

 and rearrangement of three cases devoted to worsted laiitting and 

 crocheting yarns and handmade garments ; and the handicraft work 

 of the blind. In the section of food, additions were made to the 

 collection of canned foods put up by members of Boys' and Girls' 

 Canning Clubs of the different states. 



The space which at present can be devoted to the medical exhibits 

 is all occupied so that the work of the year consisted in filling in the 

 gaps, rearranging and improving the exhibits. Fourteen new or 

 rearranged installations were made this year. These additions in- 

 cluded the five cases showing the medical field equipment of the 

 Italian forces; one case illustrating the use of chaulmoogra oil in 

 the treatment of leprosy ; two cases of historical homeopathic speci- 

 mens; two cases concerning the spread and prevention of diseases; 

 an exhibit showing some of the well-known alkaloids which are used 

 as medicine; a case of medical synthetic carbon compounds; a new 

 display of the historical objects and specimens bearing on the first 

 use of ether as an anaesthetic in a surgical operation b}^ Dr. Craw- 

 ford W. Long, Athens, Ga., and an exliibit of old surgical instru- 

 ments. 



The old collections of organic products located in the Southwest 

 court gallery of the Arts and Industries Building were carefully 

 overliauled upon the appointment of an aid in organic chemistry, 

 and the creation of a section of organic chemistry, under the super- 

 vision of the curator of textiles. New exhibits to illustrate modern 

 chemical industries deriving their raw products from organic sources 

 were solicited and are rapidly being installed. Several of the old 

 collections, such as those of ivory and tortoise shell are very valuable 

 since they represent industries which have ceased to operate or will 



