20 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1944 
cellulose derived from wood pulp. Since the military services’ re- 
quirements for ordnance purposes cover practically all the annual 
production of cotton linters, the manufacturers of rayon found it 
necessary to turn to alpha-cellulose for their raw material. The appli- 
cations of the wood-pulp cellulose shown in the exhibit include rayon, 
molded and laminated plastics, cellophane, artificial leather, rayon 
tire-cord fabric, and electric-are welding rods. 
An interesting addition to the collection of commercial furs was 
a gift from Vice President Henry A. Wallace of two robes made 
from strips of vicufia skins. The robes were presented to him by 
Miss Rosa Prado, daughter of the President of Peri, on the occasion 
of Mr. Wallace’s good-will tour. 
In the division of medicine and public health the most valuable 
items were added to the section of pharmacy. These included a com- 
plete exhibit illustrating the manufacture and use of dried blood 
plasma now effectively employed by our armed forces; a series of ob- 
jects picturing the method of obtaining penicillin, the recently dis- 
covered miracle-performing bacteriostatic drug; and a collection out- 
lining the life history of Carl Wilhelm Scheele, the internationally 
famous apothecary. To the history of medicine section was added 
the first portable X-ray machine known to have been operated suc- 
cessfully on a battlefield. 
The outstanding accession in the section of graphic arts was a French 
color print of the eighteenth century, “L’Amant Surpris,” by C. M. 
Descourtis after F. Schall. This type of print, the estampe galante, 
is highly prized and much sought after by collectors. Descourtis 
was one of the important engravers of the period, and it is said that . 
“L’Amant Surpris” is one of his masterpieces. Walter Tittle, a well- 
known drypoint artist, presented the section with 19 examples of his 
work, following his special exhibition in the Museum. VOKS, the 
Soviet Russian Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, 
gave the section six war posters produced by the hand-stencil process.’ 
No printing equipment is necessary in making posters of this kind, 
which the Russians have developed to a high degree. Guerrilla artists 
have used this method extensively in occupied territories where the 
absence of printing and transportation facilities eliminates other 
methods. 
History.—The collection of civil, naval, marine, and military medals 
and decorations was increased by specimens of several awards of 
these types established during the present war. Among these were 
specimens of the Air Medal, awarded to members of the armed forces 
of the United States who have distinguished themselves since Sep- 
tember 8, 1939, by meritorious achievement in flight. It is second only 
to the Distinguished Flying Cross. They include also specimens of 
