556 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



high that one can walk upright in it to clean the glass. The construc- 

 tion of this hall indicates in one respect an essential advance over the 

 halls of the RoA^al College of Surgeons in London, which as alread}' 

 stated are too dark. Windows here are inserted on the ground floor, 

 so that the galleries do not shade the hall below, as in London. The 

 upper galler}" has, besides, a floor of hammered glass. This scheme 

 of supplemental side lighting is A^er}^ essential where there are 

 skjdights, but is in no way to T)e preferred to the lighting of 

 large halls from two long sides, as it has many disadvantages. For 

 instance, the reflections of the sk3dight on the desk cases along the 

 rail of the galleries is verj^ annoying, as is true ever3^where in 

 similar structures (Hamburg, London, etc.). The cases on the 

 galleries are shallow wall cases, and those of the hall itself are 

 mostly free-standing ones, at right angles to the window piers. These 

 are consequently excellenth^ lighted, while, on the contrary, the wall 

 cases on the narrow sides of the hall are dark. Though the superb 

 mahogany cases, with plate glass, are on the whole very impressive 

 when one enters the large hall, they do not, with their massive 

 framework, answer to strict modern requirements. Furthermore, 

 they do not close tightly, and the collection, therefore, must be cleaned 

 yearly throughout. There are horizontal cases near the windows. 

 The shelves in the cases are of plate glass or of iron lattice-work, 

 which is less attractive. The museum contains on the main floor 

 comparative-anatomy preparations. The upper gallery is devoted to 

 pathology, as in the Koyal College of Surgeons in London. Doors 

 lead from the galleries into the several departments of the medical 

 school. The floor of the hall is on the level with the adjoining labo- 

 ratories, preparators' quarters, the dissecting room, and lecture hall. 

 Everything is excellent and spacious. The ample space between the 

 cases, from the floor to the roof, is occupied by a rich collection of 

 whale skeletons, making a striking picture. They are suspended by 

 chains, which appear less massive than the iron rods emplo3'ed in the 

 Koyal College of Surgeons in London. 



At one end of the great hall there is a room aljout 23 feet long, IG 

 feet broad, and 20 feet high, with a gallery for the excellent series of 

 racial skulls; among them, for example, over 70 Australian skulls. 

 This collection rivals in importance that of the Roj^al College of Sur- 

 geons in London. There is also an old phrenological collection, phre- 

 nology having been zealously cultivated in Edinlnirgh at the time of Gall. 



In general, this museum, on account of the limited force of em- 

 ploj^ees, as occurs in many English museums, is not sufficiently cared 

 for or labeled. It ranks, however, among the best in the world, and 

 Sir William Turner has made a worthy monument for himself." 



« Recently (190.S) Sir William Turner has been elected principal of the Universitj', 

 and Prof. D. J. Cunningham of Dublin has become his successor. 



