CASES. 69 



them at a cost not exceeding that of a poor case. It would 

 be well for those having charge of the equipment of a mu- 

 seum to visit these- four museums before building their own, 

 and thus avoid the endless grumbling and dissatisfaction 

 which might otherwise follow. 



Cases for exhibition may be divided into two groups, ver- 

 tical and horizontal. The former are generally either placed 

 against the wall or are used to divide the exhibition room 

 into alcoves. Each upright case should have its own floor, 

 the floor of the room never being employed for that pur- 

 pose. Cases placed against the wall should also have their 

 own back. Otherwise any settling of the building will pro- 

 duce cracks through which dust and vermin find easy access. 

 Both floor and back should be made of thoroughly seasoned 

 matched lumber, or better still of zinc and should be fastened 

 to the rest of the case without the slightest crack. The rest 

 of the case should be of well seasoned timber, as light as is 

 consistent with strength, while large panes of good glass per- 

 mit a clear view of the specimens exhibited. The doors 

 should be very firmly made so that they cannot sag and plenty 

 of hinges should be used in hanging them. Means should 

 be employed of fastening them tightly in at least three places. 

 The lock invented by Prof. E. S. Morse, improved and manu- 

 factured by Mr. Jenks at Middleboro, Mass., is admirably 

 adapted for this purpose. In this lock all bolts act as wedges 

 drawing the door closely against the projecting portion of 

 the jamb. 



To render the joint between the door and the frame tight, 

 several methods have been employed. Sometimes a thin 



