LETTERS RELATIVE TO THE " PROGRAMME OF OR- 

 GANIZATION" OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 

 PROPOSED BY PROFESSOR JOSEPH HENRY. 



From T. Romeyn Beck. 



Albany, N. Y., November 29, 1847. 



I have perused the copy of the " Proposed Organization " 

 which you have been good enough to send me. 



I notice an omission, which may be either intentional or 

 not. It is the exclusion of medicine and surgery from the 

 physical class. It appears to me that there are subjects 

 belonging to them, which are legitimate subjects of phil- 

 osophical research and therefore should be included. I in- 

 stance, the materia medica, i. e. the discovery of new remedies 

 or the improved application of old ones ; improvements 

 in surgery; discoveries in physiology ; and lastly, the appli- 

 cations of one or more to medical jurisprudence. 



True, you are careful in your specifications, to leave room 

 for this addition, but you must be aware that the medical 

 profession embraces in this country a considerable portion 

 of the talent and learning that might be roused into activity 

 by the adoption of your plan, and I submit whether the in- 

 sertion of these subjects is not due to them. 



There is another branch intimately connected with the 

 above, which deserves every encouragement. It is the pro- 

 motion of the health of communities, or hygiene as the French 

 call it. No subject is less understood — none calls for 

 public encouragement and attention more strongly than 

 this dreadfully neglected matter. 



Y'ou will see that I refer in all this to the division of 

 reports. The " British Association " in directing attention 

 to and popularizing (if I may use the word) this plan of dif- 

 fusing knowledge has done more good than most of the 

 learned societies in the world. 



I prefer, with your permission, to give you my ideas in 

 this way, instead of noting them on the programme. 



I will in conclusion only hint at a danger, which unless 

 early and constantly guarded against, may render your 

 scheme unpopular, and hence in a measure impair its useful- 

 ness. It is, the possibility of the selection of particular 

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