Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-28
THE NEW ARMY MEDICAL BUILDING
A Handsome Fire.proOf Structure to be
Erected f0r the Great Medical Ii.

A Handsome Fire.prOOf Structure to be
Erected Tor the Great Medical Ii.
brary.
One Of the important measures enacted by
the last Congress was the passage of the bill
making an appropriation of 5000, 900 for the
erection Of flre-proof building for the records,
library and museum Of the medical department
of the army. The selection Of the site and the
adoption Of plan for the proposed building
was committed to a commission composed of
the Secretary of War, the architect of the Capi-
tol, and the secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. This commission, as stated in Thurs
days STAR, have held meeting and practical
~ decided upon location in what is known as
the Smithsonian grounds, at the corner OF 18th
and Bstreets southwest The proposed building
viii be $50 feet from the National Museum
building, which is considered to be q sufficient
distance for architectural effects. The commits
sion have not Us yet decided upon the plans
but those prepared and submitted to Congress
will probably be adopted, with such moditica-
lions as the reduction in the amount OF the APP
preparation asked for will require. These plans
contemplate brick building three stories high
and 24o feet front, with two wings, each of a
depth of 100 feet. The library, il was proposed,
will occupy. one of these wings; the museum the
other, and the middle portion viii! be
hospital records The exterior will be plain,
with tower in the center, and in general APP
pearance 1t will not look unlike the National
rotary of War will designate some officer of the
army to superintend the ere elton, and IL is
thought probable that Col. Casey viii be detailed
erection will begin about the LIST of July. The
necessity for such a building has been felt for
museum and the war records are now crowded
in the building on 10th street, which is historic
Ii so hr The hsa
there is danger the vafuable contents may be
forms an important epoch IN the history of the
medical library, which has grown to such pro
po tbs as 20 an os m ing orS
which is devoted exclusively to medicine and
the closely allied sciences. 1t contains $1,000
thirds of existing medical literature. For many
years there was small collection of
medical books and Journals in the office of the
menced by Surgeon General Lowell about
1880. At the commencement of the late war,
this collection consisted of about $50 Volumes
general, about $50 volumes were added, being
and surgery. A catalogue published in the fall
Of 1S65 shows that the library then contained
sesd the numSe Of at IN
1874 there were $4,000 volumes and Is 900
pamphlets, and since that date the growth Of the
crease is largely due to the fact that physicians
donate their books and pamphlets to the library.
An index catalogue is now being prepared, and
ready been issued, giving the subjects in alpha
betical order and under each is list of the
books, pamphlets and everything in the library
which relates to the disease. 1t is stated by
competent authorities that this library not
only contains more medical literature than the
British museum or the National library of
France, but that 1t covers wider field and is a
better practical reference and working coilec-
ton for medical purposes than either of the
great libraries referred to. The librarian of this
great collection is DR.. j. S. Billings, and he is
assisted by DR.. Robert Fletcher and DR.. h. G.
Yarrow with the necessary clerical force In
addition to this valuable library there is the
Army Medical museum which contains some
$4,000 specimens illustrating the wounds and
diseases incident to war and armies. The latest
appliances for the treatment of diseases and the
new inventions of apparatus designed to illus
trate anatomy are found in this collection, and
In conjunction with the library 1t is believed to
afford facilities for medical study and research
that have hitherto been unobtainable in this
country. 1t Is therefore resorted to not only by
medical men and writers in this country, but
those from foreign countries who come here to
complete their education.