1884.] A walk through the Nat. History Museum at Florence. 495 
Professor Giglioli is a genial gentleman of English and Italian 
parentage, and his language proves that he learned it at his 
mother’s knee. His collection is worthy of the highest commen- 
dation, and his success should stimulate other kingdoms and peo- 
ples to emulate the example of Italy. To the generous kindness 
of Professor Giglioli I must acknowledge my indebtedness for 
Many courtesies, 
The anatomical preparations in this museum are interesting and 
of extraordinary character, unrivaled elsewhere. The art of pre- 
paring waxen models so that they can scarcely be distinguished 
from natural objects was brought to perfection by a Sicilian noble 
of Syracuse, named Zumbo, who was born in 1656. The report 
of his wonderful skill having reached the Grand Duke Cosmo 
IIL, Zumbo was invited to Florence. He afterwards left Tuscany 
for Marseilles, where he was patronized by Louis XIV., and died 
in 1703, 
The waxen Preparations exhibiting the internal structure of the 
Torpedo, are wonderfully life-like, having the appearance of real 
flesh. They illustrate the experiments made by Tain and Mat- 
teucci in animal electricity. Here are also magnified illustrations 
of the anatomy of the lobster, cuttle-fish, earth-worm and tongues 
of mollusks, the latter in gigantic enlargement. Also the internal 
anatomy of the silk-worm, of the domestic cat, goat, rabbit, cod- 
sh, and the several stages of the development of the chick from 
the egg of a hen, through the twenty-one days of incubation. 
The muscular fibers and trachez of a common fly are magnified 
900 diameters or 729 million times in volume. This exhibit is 
One of the most remarkable evidences of the transcendent skill of 
the artist, 
ie adjoining rooms are displayed, of life size, a multitude of 
rations of human anatomy. In one, the arteries of the entire 
Pek represented in true color, form and place, standing out 
thing im in another the veins appear by themselves, while ina 
4. wteties and veins are seen with all their intimate inter- 
sculations. In a fourth the observer is introduced to his nervous 
iat oy its wonderful net-work of white cords is seen inter- 
aid thc Snveloping the entire anatomy of veins, arteries, eg 
‘Witenes the Skin alone having been removed. Every stage n 
"i j tion is illustrated, every organ is represented, from the hair 
toe-nails, and the visitor might for a moment imagine him- 
