Figure 2. — Dr. Joseph M. Toner, a leading physician in 

 Washington, D.C., and founder of the "Toner Lectures" 

 for the promotion and advancement of medical education 

 and research. In 1873. Dr. Toner became president of 

 the American Medical Association and, in 1874, he be- 

 came president of the American Public Health Associa- 

 tion. He was a physician to St. Joseph's Male Orphan 

 Asylum and St. Ann's Infants' Asylum in Washington, 

 D.C. In addition, he was instrumental in establishing 

 Providence Hospital in the District of Columbia. He also 

 provided a workable plan for the American Medical 

 Association's library in Washington, D.C. (1868-1871). 

 Among his several publications are: Contributions to the 

 Annals of Medical Progress and Medical Education in the 

 United States before and timing the Wai of Independence (Wash- 

 ington: Government Printing Office, 1874) and Medical 

 Men of the Revolution (1876). In 1882, he donated his 

 large library, consisting of 44,000 books and pamphlets on 

 topics related mainly to medicine and history, to the Li- 

 brary of Congress. {Photo courtesy of National Library of 

 Medieine.) 



Structure of Cancerous Tumors and the Mode in 

 which Adjacent parts are Invaded," deserves credit 

 even by current standards of scientific research. 2 

 Only 10 lectures were given between 1873 and 1890 

 (see bibliography), despite the recommendation for 

 at least two every year. 3 



A more direct factor, which not only contributed 

 to the establishment of a section on the healing arts, 

 but also had a greater effect upon the Smithsonian 

 Institution than any other event since its founding, 

 was the 1876 centennial exhibition in Philadelphia. 



2 Dr. J. J. Woodward's lecture explained the progress of 

 medical knowledge of morbid growth and cancerous tumors 

 from 1865 to 1872. It cautioned that uncertain methods of 

 diagnosis at that lime allowed charlatans and uneducated prac- 

 titioners to report cures of cancer in instances where nonmalig- 

 nant growths were "removed by their caustic pastes and 

 plasters." 



3 The two longest intervals were in preparing the last two 

 lectures: the ninth in 1884, and the tenth, 1889. Both came 

 after the establishment in 1881 of the Section of Materia 



in tin I ,S. National Museum, to display the develop- 

 ment and progress of the health professions. 



This magnificent international fair commemorated 

 the hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the 

 Declaration of Independence. The finest exhibits of 

 30 foreign countries and various States of the Lfnion 

 participating in the fair were finally donated to the 

 Smithsonian Institution as the official depository of 

 historical and archeological objects for this country. 

 As a result, the Institution's collections increased to 

 an extent far beyond the capacity of the first Smith- 

 sonian building. This led to the erection of the 

 National Museum, known for the last two decades 

 and until date of publication as the Arts and Indus- 

 tries building, which was completed on March 4, 

 1881, and was used that evening for the inaugural 

 reception of incoming President James A. Garfield. 



Section of Materia Medica 

 (1881-1898) 



Throughout the 19th century, the stuck- of materia 

 medica (dealing with the nature and properties of 



272 



BULLETIN 240: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY 



