Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-05

others which he may have and can spare.
retain OF these what we need and send the re-
mainder to the Boston library. This system ex
tending as 1t does to all Libraries In this country
Doth countries, provides rich accessions to the
library each year."
DO you buy many books outright" cues
toned the listener, amused by the Yankee in
genuity displayed in the exchange system just
described.
Very few" was the reply. awe don't have
enough money for such purpose. Congress
gives US 5000 year. and nearly half of that
10 used In paying the subscriptions to the medi-
cal Journals and publications of the world, OF
which we keep complete file. Even tine ia
panese have seven or eight medical journals
There Is one also In COnstantinope, one in India,
and here is one published in Athens, Greece"
added the doctor, handing to the reporter a
small magazine printed in the Greek language
upon very thin paper.
A PAINFUL REMINDER.
Recognizing the characters associated with
some melancholy experience of his school days,
the reporter hastily handed the magazine back,
and turning to a more cheerful subject asked
DIR. Billings how the Washington library COM
pared with other similar collections in the
world.
CoAfARlSON WITH THE GREAT LIBRARIES OF
LONDON AND PARIS.
Il nave compared, was the response, ''the cat
alogue of the Washington library with those of
the two largest collections of books in existence.
namely. the British Museum of London, and
the Bibliotheque Rationale. of Paris. In the
former find the title of 651 books and $50 inau-
gural theses relating to medicine. Comparing
this with the corresponding portions of the
washington catalogue it is found that the Brit
lsh Museum has 262 medical books, 372 medical
theses and 1lS different editions which are not
In the Surgeon Generals Library. On the other
hand the latter has 2S5 books. 342 theses and 50
different editions which are not in the British
Museum. There are common to both libraries
217 books and sos theses. The two libraries an
pear TO be nearly equal as regards medical books.
This is EXCLUSIVE Of medical Journals and trans
actions and reports, In which the Washington
library is much the Richer
wv hat Is the result of your comparison with
the library in Paris?" asked the reporter
1T is impossible to make an exact COMPARE
son, was the reply, ''fOr the reason that the
catalogue of the Rationale is arranged by sub
jects: does not include inaugural theses or dis
sertations, and was published in 1878. But
taking the general subjects, anatomy, fevers
diseases of the eye, and cholera, 1t appears that
in the first three subjects named 100 books are
common to both libraries; 416 are in the WASH
ington Library and 4S3 in the Paris. On the
subject OF cholera, excluding treatment, 1914
books are common to both: 745 are in this lib-
rary and 272 are in the Paris library The books
which the French library has, and our own lib
raTy has not. are for the most part old books
dating before 1900, or French books But we
have In our library 70 French books on cholera
which are not in the Paris catalogue,
what, in general way, doctor, are the con-
ciusions to be drawn from this cOmparisoni" asked
the reporter.
IL think it is safe to conclude" he continued
that our library not only contains more medi-
cal literature than the British museum or the
national library OF France, but that it covers
wider Held, represents better the medical litera-
ture OF the world. and is decidedly better prac-
tlcal reference and working collection for medi-
cal purposes than either Of the great libraries
referred to-"
AS the doctor reached this conclusion graft
flying at least to the nationalpride of the nearer
even II it evoked no professional pride, the
thought occurred that in such a collection there
must be a good many.
RARE AND VALUABLE WORKS.
Although the custodian of the books was EVIL
IDENTITY casting regretful glances at his desk and
the accumulated work. the reporter probed him
up with another question, as follows: s.In what
Is your collection rich?'
Well, in the first place" responded the Doc
tor with good natured resignation lit is rich
In periodical literature. 1t has collection of
medical Journals and transactions comprising
some 10000 volumes. These are in all lam
guageS including the Japanese and the Sanscrit
A special effort has been made to get these, so
that the original matter which they contained
might be indexed. In this speciality the library
is the best in the world. We have a complete
lille of all the journals published in America
since l79o. with the exception Of five volumes"
The library" lie continued, sis rich in dis
sertatlons and in original theses. We have
$1,000 theses, many of them valuable in his
torical and biographical way. 1t is especially
rlch ia American medical literature prior to the
Revolution.
For instance" continued the Doctor. taking
from the desk small thin volume, "here is the
only copy of the work entitled, IAN Essay on
Feyers. Rattles and Canker." by John Halton,
published In Boston, in 1892. We have quite q
series OF these Boston publications, and in fact
about all of the early American medical works
Our collection Of rare Americana is very COM
plete."
what are some Of the other notable features
OF the collection" continued the reporter.
COSTLY ILLUSTRATED BOOKS.
"We have all the large costly illustrated
works. such as aliases Of anatomy; those of
Albinus, Auveit, Cruveilhier and others. There
Is also valuable collection of the medical
classics. The works of Hippocrates. Galen
Celsers and Avienna. In modern literature
both for the period in the early part of the
century, when the French writer's predominated.
and for the subsequent period, when the Ger
man influence was In the ascendant. the
library has good representation"
''As remarked before" the Doctor added.
'this library has; about two-thirds of the exist,
Ing medical literature"
NEED OF FIRE-PROOF BUILDING FOR THIS VAL
UABLE COLLECTION.
In further conversation the Doctor said that
he believed that Congress would authorize the
erection Of fire-proof building for the recep-
ton OF this collection, and in this way guard
against loss from fire, which the library is now
exposed to In it's present quarters
In the management Of this great collection of
books DR.. Billings is assisted by DR.. Robert
Fletcher and DR.. H. c. Yarrow with a small
clerical force. The work Of preparing for the
press the index catalogue is performed by these
gentlemen In addition to the duties belonging
to the library proper.
Justice to Veteran Policemen.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR.
1t appears to be generally conceded that the
summary dismissal of policemen, who have
given the best years of their lives to the public
service, when they become physically disabled.
or are incapacitated by age for active duty, is a
hardship which should if possible, be alleyiated.
Without stopping to inquire as to the good of
the ''POlice Fund" ibid any one ever hear of a