Report of the P?-esident. 25 



The preparation of skeletons by the old process is very 

 slow, several weeks being required to complete a single skele- 

 ton. This method is entirely inadequate to take care of the 

 material received. After many experiments, the department 

 has adopted a process of digestion with trypsin in an alkaline 

 solution, which is not only a rapid method but leaves the 

 bones in a perfectly sweet condition as well as avoiding many 

 of the injuries, particularly to small bones, which occur by 

 maceration. This work is greatly hampered, however, by the 

 lack of proper equipment and suitable quarters. 



Satisfactory progress has been made in the preparation of 

 corrosion specimens of the various organs of the animal 

 body. 



A part of the room west of the Mexican Hall has been 

 allotted to the department for exhibition purposes. A general 

 plan of installation has been tentatively formulated, illustrat- 

 ing the chemical constitution of man and the various functions 

 performed by the different organs of the body. Some of the 

 material for this exhibit is well under way. 



Dr. George W. Crary, a well-known specialist of this City, 

 has given to the department the benefit of his wide experience 

 and is making a comparative histological study of the skin 

 of vertebrates. It is expected that from these preparations 

 wax models can be constructed which will be valuable for 

 Museum exhibition. 



We are pleased to acknowledge the many courtesies ex- 

 tended to the Museum by the Director of the Aquarium, 

 the Director of the New York Zoological Society and the 

 Director of the Central Park Menagerie. 



Department of Preparation and Installation. — The 

 members of this department have been fully occupied. A 

 large number of models of invertebrates have been completed, 

 the accessories for several bird and mammal groups have been 

 prepared, and installations of these have been made, as noted 

 under the various departments. The making of casts and the 

 general photographic work for the Museum have been under 

 the direction of this department. 



