136 
M. J0SIA1I ROBERTS. 
MUSEUMS AS EDUCATIONAL ADJUNCTS TO MEDICAL COLLEGES. 
, By M. Josiaii Roberts.* 
Respect for, yet absolute independence of, authority. 
Prof. Burt O. Wilder (7).t 
As a in an is a being of action, it is demanded that his education shall be a preparation for 
action. , E. L. Youmans, (24). 
Properly preserved and displayed specimens are essentially “ scientific apparatus.” 
Prof. W. H. Flower, F.B.S., (22). 
Well-arranged museums of every kind are now an educational necessity in every highly 
civilized State. Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, (9,78). 
The subject of Natural History Museums, as means of affording genera. 
instruction to the public, of advancing the spread of biological knowledge, and 
of enabling scientific men to pursue their study more advantageously, has from 
time to time received considerable attention from such men as Agassiz, Huxley, 
Flower, and others, but I am not aware that the subject of museums as edu¬ 
cational adjuncts to medical colleges, has ever received much, if any, attention ; at 
least it has not been brought before the profession with that prominence its im¬ 
portance would seem to merit. 
That I may not be considered as belonging wholly to that class of individuals 
whom Galileo was so fond of calling “paper philosophers,” I would state that I 
take this occasion to present a few observations which have been suggested by 
some practical experience as a collector and preserver of specimens of natural 
history. The views of leading medical men and naturalists, having a direct 
bearing upon this important subject, are also given, so far as I have been able to 
obtain them. 
I shall not presume to treat the subject comprehensively, but will only con¬ 
sider some of its more significant points, among which are the following : 
I. Of what advantage is a well-arranged and properly managed museum to 
a medical college ? 
II. What is the most desirable form of a museum building, or of rooms 
devoted to museum purposes, and of the cases in which objects are to be dis¬ 
played ? 
III. What should a medical museum contain ? 
IV. How should the contents of a museum be arranged ? 
V. How can the material thus collected be made most useful ? 
VI. Management. 
VII. Conservator of a museum. 
*In justice to the author, it should be stated that this essay was written in December, 
1877, and is now published without revision or additions. It is a graduating thesis, and re¬ 
ceived honorable mention by the Faculty of the Medical Department of the University of New 
York at its thirty-seventh Commencement, February 19,1882. 
t The numbers refer to a list of works and papers at the close of this article. 
