REPOET OF TI-IE SECRETARY 37 



ciated with the history of medicine in America were among other 

 additions to this division. 



Work of the devision of graphic arts continued mainly along lines 

 developed in past years, and consisted of improving and completing 

 existing series of specimens and the continuance of special exhibi- 

 tions. Fourteen of the latter held during the year attracted favor- 

 able attention. Valuable additions to exhibit materials have been 

 received or promised as a result o"f these exhibits. 



One important new exhibit of microengraving has attracted much 

 attention. It consists of " The Lord's Prayer " engraved on glass in 

 a square space about ^3^0^ of an inch on a side, so arranged that 

 it is viewed under a miscrope through the eye of a needle. The 

 entire exhibit was prepared and presented by Alfred McEwen, of 

 New York City. 



The exhibit of mezzotints has been completely rearranged, with 

 additions of new specimens to the historical series and of two series 

 of plates and prints to the technical set, so that it now presents a 

 clear idea of the early and modern methods of engraving mezzotints. 



The collection illustrating methods used in printing for the blind 

 has also been greatly improved by the incorporation of additional 

 material which gives a clear idea of the method of making and print- 

 ing the special plates required in this work and the manner in which 

 the characters are read by the blind. 



Three Babylonian tablets about 4,000 years old, inscribed with 

 cuneiform writing, acquired by purchase, have been placed with the 

 exhibits on the history of writing where they make an interesting 

 addition. Two of these of small size are of baked clay and represent 

 a skillful form of writing. The other represents the effort of a 

 schoolboy learning to write, and, while crude, is of considerable in- 

 terest. Tablets of this latter kind are very rare, as they are of un- 

 baked clay and were not intended to be permanently preserved. 



From Mr. B. M. Comerford, of Washington, D. C, were received 

 four examples of the rare and beautiful art of fore-edge decorating, 

 which consists of painting on the small portions of the leaves of a 

 book that are exposed when the back is pushed out of normal posi- 

 tion. The picture disappears when the book is closed. This art is 

 said to have been originated by Samuel Mearne, who is reported to 

 have practiced it as early as 1662. 



The aquatone process, which was mentioned in last year's report 

 as a new and beautiful development among modern photomechanical 

 processes, is now represented by an exhibit indicating the technical 

 steps in the process of preparing and printing such a plate. This 

 is the gift of William Edwin E,udge, of New York, and shows well 

 the simplicity of the process and the beauty of the results obtained. 

 76041—26 4 



