REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 89 



The installation of the photographic exhibition, which occupies 

 the gallery of the northwest court in the older Museum building, was 

 so nearly completed for the material on hand that it was opened to 

 the public late in June, 1913, The leading features of this important 

 display are described elsewhere. 



Medicine. — No progress of any moment has recently been made in 

 this important division, either in the matter of acquiring new ma- 

 terial or of further classifying and arranging the collections, owing 

 to lack of means. Dr. James M. Flint, United States Navy, retired, 

 the originator of the collection and for a quarter of a century its hon- 

 orary curator, left the material in excellent condition when he re- 

 linquished his position two years ago. Since then every effort has 

 been made to prevent deterioration, pending the time when the af- 

 fairs of the division can again be actively taken up. The precau- 

 tions which this entails have been under the direction of Dr. Walter 

 Hough, who has personally given attention to many of the details. 

 The collections were consulted last year, as they had been in the past, 

 by members of the Bureau of Chemistry of the Department of Agri- 

 culture, but with a proper organization of the division the import- 

 ance of its possessions and opportunities will certainly receive wide- 

 spread recognition. 



Musical instruments. — Of the few accessions received by this sec- 

 tion only one was especially noteworthy. This is a violano-virtuoso, 

 an instrument which mechanically plays a violin with piano accom- 

 paniment. It is a high product of modern inventive skill, which 

 has succeeded in rendering violin music of great complexity in the 

 style and purity of an artist, and came as a gift from the Mills Nov- 

 elty Co., of Chicago, 111. 



The collection of musical instruments, through a slow but con- 

 stant growth, has now reached a stage wdiere it is to be regarded 

 as of exceptional importance. For many years it occupied the wall 

 cases at the sides of the main hall of history, where it was much 

 crowded and so concealed that its extent and value could not be 

 appreciated by the public. Many instruments, moreover, had of 

 necessity to be retained in storage. Near the close of last year, 

 however, the collection was reinstalled in the wall cases surrounding 

 the northwest court, where the pieces may be well observed, though 

 they require to be better labeled. Mr. E. H. Hawley, who has the 

 custod}" of the musical instruments, has completed through the 

 letter " T " the catalogue of terms used and has begun a review of 

 the instruments of the open hammered string class. 



Histoiy. — The division of history was the recipient of many ac- 

 cessions, some of which were of much value, and an exceptionally 

 large percentage were permanent acquisitions. Of special interest 

 is a wine cooler of heavy silver plate, containing two bottle holders, 



