Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-03-19
TWO THOUSAND SKULLS.
A Visit to the National Medical
Museum and Library.
Composite Photography Used to Ascertain
the Divergence OF Indian Races-A
"FiOwer Garden ofDiseasc GcrmsA
DIR. j. S. Billings Great Work.

os A@hhAuSS oECdl WOEks
Washington Cor. Philadelphia Press.1
called upon Or. John s. Billings, who
has charge OF the National Medical Museum
and Lib ary, the other day and found him
busily at work. Ones first feeling is of
surprise, so totally unlike is DIR. Billings to
the ideal savant. Scarcely in the prime of
life, he has fire hness Of appearance that
almost contradicts the slight scholarly
stoop of his BROAD shoulders and the ex-
preston of concentrated thought that is
stamped on his countenance. Fully six
feet in height, full chested, long of limb
and clad in an easily fitting suit of Scotch
tweed, he impressed me as a man of suffi-
ciently strong physique to meet the innu-
merable demands made on him mentally
In graphing some of the great scientific
problems of the day. The most striking
features of his face are his large, full and
dark-blue eyes and his fine forehead. His
hair is thick and of light chestnut hue, aud
a tawny monstache shades his upper lip.
told him that. after promising myself the
pleasure for more than two years, had
at last come to visit the Medical Museum
and Library. A smaller man would
be completely lost In the chaos DIR.
Billings calls his "lower csfice.n which
with the Army and Navy Medical Mu-
scum and Library, is located in Ford's old
theater, where Abraham Lincoln was
shot. Within sight of this Office OH the
same floor, and likewise on the floor
above, is a collection that at first glance
strikes the beholder like an ancient grave
yard let loose. One might fancy that all
the skeletons and all the skulls and all
the odd bones had suddenly come to
life again and arranged themselves in a
thousand hideous attitudes on the shelves
and in the glass cases of this scientific
chamber of horrors, and there, CHASTITY,
grisly, grim, they stubbornly remain,
steadily refusing to betake themselves
back to the decent seclusion of the grave.
Doctor" said 1, with an ill-disguised
shudder, as together we entered the main
room of the museum, show many skulls
have you here?"
about two thousand" he replied, and
quiet smile played over his face.
What are you doing with thems"
1--WE are making studies of the >kulls of
the various Indian races by the aid of
composite photography" was the reply,
and then Doctor Billings opened lnrge
portfolio and showed me the results of
these labors among dead mems skulls.
They were certainly marvellous. From
these photographs the inexperienced in
such studies could easily select the typi-
cal skulls of the different races-the front
of the skull, the back, the base, and even
the marked differences in the upper jaws
were clearly observable.
"What is the chief object of this study?n
"To ascertain the divergence of the
tribes"
Where and how do you get these
skulls:"
''They are obtained by our surveying
and exploring parties, and in other ways.
We have just received fine collection of
Peruvian skulls, which will be subjected to
similar tests"
But the green spot in the Medical Museum
is what DR.. Billings jocularly calls his
flower garden. Here are planted and
flourish disease germs of all sorts. Rare
flowers, indeed. Cholera morbus, erysip-
elias, pneumonia, chicken -pox, typhoid
fever, safely surrounded with a sort of
gelatine, are there, staring you in the face
through long tubulur glass bottles.
"Were to run a needle into that growth
in there" said the Doctor, taking up the
pneumonia bottle, "and then insert the
needle into your body a few hours would
find you down with an attack of pneu-
monia."
Cheerful" muttered. And then. mus
tering courage, I said: "Have you the
real cholera in your garden. doctor?"
mo, it is hardly deemed wise for pru-
Dental reasons to have that, though, in
fact, it would be perfectly safe.n And
then my informant and friendly guide
looked affectionately on the growth md
progress the erysipelas was making and
eyed tenderly the cholera -morbus bottle,
and seemed as happy among them as
pretty woman among budding plants.
1t was this museum. with its innumer-
able collection illustrating eunshot wounds.
that aided so materially in the production
of what European book critics declared
was the most remarkable work of the GEN.
tury-the medical and surgical history of
The War OF the Rebellion. Though in cer-
tain directions the most complete of its
kind. the museum has cost the Government
but little, and is q monument Of the skill.
the industry and public spirit of our army
and navy. Under the guidance OF a man
like Doctor Billings this museum has as
sumed its present Importance, and when
the new building is complete it will become
one of the features of the capital.
The library, to which the country Is per.
haps still more indebted to DIR. Billings. IN
as the largest and most valuable
medical library in the world. It contain,
more current medical literature than any
other library. The "Jndex Medicus." which
Is really the catalogue Of this library. and
which has occupied considerable of DIR.
'iillings'time for several years. will he equal
in size to about fourteen "Webster's Die
tionaries." Six volumes of this invaIuab,e
work have been published and the seventh
. now In the Government printing Office.
When that is completed half the task will
have been performed. The author of this
work is an example Of a man who has de.
voted bis life to the benefit and advance.
nent OF his profession without any thought
't gain or personal aggrandizement. Him
self one Of the most skillful surgeons of the
war, he could have easily settled in a great
,ity and won for himself popular fame and
fortune. Fame he has in his own profes-
non, and in 1881 he was selected to repre-
'ent the United States in the international
Medical Congress in London, where France
'ent Pasteur, Germany, virchow and En-.
gland put forward Huxley. Fortune DR..
Billings has not. for he has devoted himself
entirely TO scientific inquiry, to the build
ng up in this country Of National libra
", to the Index Medicus." to improving
hospital architecture, to elaborate expert.
nents in disease germs. and now to rev
md much needed medical dictionary.
Big Game In PennsyIvsnia.
IWelIsboro fPa-) AxItatoc.1
It f. stated that more bears aud wildcats
lave been seen in the Pine Creek Noun
aims than usual this fall AMI winter. As