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

AIS RAPID GROWTH FROM A SMALL BEGINNING
AN INTERESTING TALK WITH DR.. BILLINGS
COMPARISON WITH THE GREAT LIBRARIES OF
LONDON AND PARASITIC INTEREST TAKEN In
1T BIZ THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
The importance, magnitude and value Of the
medical library attached to the Surgeon Gen
erals office of the United States army is per-
haps but little known or appreciated outside of
medical circles. This Is probably due to the
fact that only during the past few years has it
emerged from what may be termed the chrysalis
state of mere bureau-working library to col
lection that is national in its scope and inter-
national in its character. The visitors to the
Army and Medical Museum are attracted thither.
perhaps. In the majority of cases, to see q
building around which cluster memories of a
peculiarly tender and patriotic character to
every American citizen; for here President Lin
coin received his death wound. There is not
much to remind one Of the old - Ford's The
ater In the present transformed Interior and
alter gazing at the alcOholiZed specimens of
the havoc made by war upon the human anato-
my upon exhibition. the visitor Is willing to
leave for pleasanter scenes and goes away
most likely, in ignorance of the fact that this
building contains the most valuable and extern
sive collection of medical works. not only in
this country. but in the world. Even if he wan
cases and through dark passage-ways to the
rear OF the building. and there found coy
little nook, hemmed IN on all sides by shelf on
shelf loaded with books he would not be much
wiser as to the value and Importance of this col
lection No more does the average tourist
VINO in doing the Capitol building and walks
through the Congressional Library. and
gaZeS around upon the giddy heights
vi loaded book shelves appreciate the signif-
canoe OF the spectacle. And so it happens that
lalnN- old
membering, perhaps, some vivid photograph of
gun-shOt wound or some hospital appliance,
but knowing nothing of the now celebrated COL
lection of medical books. 1t is however not
only the casual visitor and tourist, but also the
well Uniformed resident, that Is ignorant of the
existence in this city of
'HE FOREMOST MEDICAL LIBRARY IN THE
WORLD.
Ii Is now the largest collection of books in the
world which is devoted exclusively to medicine
and the closely allied sciences. 1t CONTAINS
about $1,000 volumes of books, properly So
called, and &c, coo pamphlets
This library has about twO-thirds of existing
medical literature" remarked the librarian. Dr.
y. > Billings, to a STAR reporter This statement
was received with surprise by the visitor. There
We're no signs Of this literary wealth In the
Httie room where the Doctor was found In the
Surgeon Generals office, near the corner of 18th
street and the Avenue. few books in shelves
against the wall some pamphlets piled up on the
desk at which the librarian sat, seemed hardly
suffcient to warrant this statement There were.
however. numerous indications that this was
LITERARY WORKSHOP.
At desks on each side of the librarian
were two clerks, and In the opposite corner was
DR. Robert Fletcher, q co-laborer with DIR. Bill
iings in library work. Little heaps of PAM
phlets, periodicals and manuscripts covered the
desks, while here and there were piles of books
~hlch were at Intervals removed by messengers
and their places supplied by others Noticing.
perhaps. the visitors survey OF the room, the
Doctor remarked:
THE library is in the Medical Museum build
ing on loth street. and you would be interested
In visiting it. 1t is interesting itself and also for
the fact that it is the larges in the world
THE ORIGIN OF THE LIBRARY
What was the origin of the library. doctor"
inquired the listener waving for the present the
consideration of the invitation
For many years" was the reply. sthere was
small collection of medical books and Journals
In the office of the Surgeon General. which was
probably commenced by Surgeon General Loball
about 1880 At the commencement of the late
war tins collection consisted of about $50 vol
umeS. mostly medical text books and Journals
IN 1852 and 1865 while Dr. Hammond was Sur
geon General about 800 volumes were added
anu surgery. catalogue published i'm the fall
OF 1865 shows that the library then contained
about 1,oOO volumes. The catalogue OF 1872
placed the number of volumes ut Is, 600 which
Chiefly related to military hygiene. medicine,
ana surgery. TO public hygiene and medical
statistics. In 1874 there were 25 600 volumes and
io.OOO single pamphlets catalogued, and since
that date the growth has been uninterrupted
and progressive, and at the present time the
library contains 60.0OO volumes and 66, 200
pamphlets" ~. .
Accor-NTING FOR THE RArID GROWTH OF THE
..,.-,44a LIBRARY.
THAT is very rapid growth. Doctor. How
DO you account for it 2" asked the listener with
s0me curiosity.
''"eil, In the preface to the catalogue Of 1872"
replied The Doctor. throwing himself back in his
Chair in a reflective attitude, 1.-The need of the
United States for a large medical library was
stated to be shown by the fact that were all the
public medical libraries of the United States mt
together, 1t wOu not be possible to verify from
the original authorities the references given by
standard English or German authorities No
4csmpiete collection of American medical litera.
'ture was In existence and the most complete
was In private hands and not then accessible to
the public
Upon the issue of this catalogue he con-
tinued. THE medical profession of the country
began to take an active interest in the subject
and the library began to grow by accessions
from voluntary contributions"
Why should the medical profession give
Their books to this library" asked the listener In
some tmaZement.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE LIBRARY
. BE cause they know 1t is to their advantage
To have well stocked medical library, where all
The books and special articles in periodicals and
pamphlets have their appropriate reference In
the inoex catalogue of which you may have
heard"
''Of course, interrupted the visitor with q
show of confidence, but would like to hear
what you nave to say of the plan of the cata-
logue-"
We'll then. in brief the catalogue will be
issued III ten volumes. of about / 600 pages each.
There are three volumes already issued and we
are at work u Don the fourth which will bring
The catalogue Gown nearly through the letter F.
1t Is arranged by subjects-the names of the
various diseases. and under each Is given the
books. pamphlets and. in fact everything that is
published Oh that subject which IL in our library
1T X 10 the interest OF physicians and medical
writer's To have this as complete as possible. for
convenience in finding all the authorities on any
one disease"
. 1t Is to such special libraries" he continued.
that physicians give their books and pam
phiets, and the rapid growth Of tho lihrary 10