92 REPOKT OF NATIONAL. MUSEUM, 1925 



The number of specimens acquired by the Department of Arts 

 and Industries and the Division of History during the year was 

 17,007, an increase of 6,822 over those of the preceding year. These 

 new specimens were assigned as follows: To mechanical technology, 

 145 ; mineral technology, 33 ; textiles, 271 ; organic chemistry, 7,493 ; 

 wood technology, 425; foods, 17; medicine, 635; graphic arts includ- 

 ing photography, 802; Loeb collection of chemical types, 616, and 

 history, 6,570. 



It has ever been the policy to give careful consideration to prof- 

 fered objects and to accept only such as were of definite value to the 

 Museum. Greater vigilance than ever has now to be exercised in 

 this matter, and even much material which would assist in rounding 

 out subjects at present not well represented, has to be refused or 

 accepted only in form of photographs or other illustrations instead 

 of the articles themselves, because of the crowded condition of the 

 exhibition halls. In some sections it is now impossible to add to the 

 exhibition even very unique objects without first retiring something, 

 possibly equally interesting and important. 



ACCESSIONS DESERVING SPECIAL NOTICE 



The very diversity of the collections makes it difficult to state 

 what are the most important additions to the Museum during the 

 year, since some small object of little intrinsic value may be very 

 important in filling a gap in a series, illustrating a type or method 

 not represented, or because of association with some person or event. 

 It is only possible here to mention some of the many important addi- 

 tions to the various collections. 



Mineral and mechanical technology. — In the Division of Mechani- 

 cal Technology, a full-size gasoline engine, especially made and 

 presented to the Museum by the Buda Co., Harvey, 111., attracts 

 much attention. The engine is operated by electricity and its out- 

 side shell is removed at various places and sections of the interior 

 moving parts are cut away so that the whole operative mechanism 

 may be observed and studied. By the installation of electric lights 

 within the engine proper, dark corners are illuminated. The engine 

 is moved at such slow speed that there is no difficulty in studying 

 the functions of the various parts. The Buda Co. does not manu- 

 facture or furnish such essential parts as carburetors, or magnetos, 

 these being selected and installed by the purchaser. Accordingly, 

 in making selection of these parts for the Museum specimen, care 

 was taken not to duplicate other specimens already in the collection. 

 As a result, the Zenith-Detriot Corporation, Detroit, Mich., present- 

 ed the carburetor for the engine, and the Splitdorf Electrical Co., 

 Newark, N. J., presented the magneto and spark plugs. The car- 



