Evening star., 1933-08-13
Together With Famed Museum, Library,
Knozvn as the Largest Of Its Kind, May
Be Placed in Mezv Building as Part Of
the Army Medical Center, Adjaeent to
Waller Reed General Hospital.
centuries. Some Of these manuscripts are
unique IN that the only known copy Is in this
library.

centuries Some Of these manuscripts are
unique IN that the only known copy is in this
library.
At the other extreme Of the progress Of
\ medical knowledge, Is the unrivaled COL
leotion Of modern texts. Practically everything
Of value published In medical science is ac-
quired by the library. not only IN America but
in every country and In every Language. The
library subscribes to some 2,5O0 medical jour-
nails all of which are on its shelves and avail
able to readers.
One of the FIRST great steps forward taken
by the library Is the institution Of the Index
Catalogue" . work designed by that famous
American physician. Billings. the publication
of which has never been interrupted since the
appearance Of the first volume IN 1880 The
Index Catalogue consists. as its name i'm
plies. Of q full catalogue Of the works con-
tanned in the library, and in proper alpha
betical sequence q complete photography by
subjects Of the literature Of medicine carefully
indexed, classified. subdivided and arranged
under subject headings in alphabetical order by
authors Although as early as 1545 Gesner and
q few others attempted bibliographies Of medical
literature the Gargantuan undertakings of the
Surgeon Generals Office are described by Sir
William Osler as the most stupendous bbio-
graphical work ever undertaken" The COM
pleteness OF its bibliographies especially in the
manner of periodical literature and its exhaus-
tive cross reference system makes the cata-
logue practically a working guide and index
to the medical libraries Of other cities and
countries, the well-thumbed and well-worn
copies in foreign universities and libraries at
testing to its frequent use Whether the reader
expects to delve into the subject Of medical
photography in London, Berlin. Buenos Aires,
Toxic or Calcutta, he usually begins with the
index catalogue of the Army Medical Library
at Washington.
The Index Medicus," likewise founded by
Billings and continued under the guidance of
DR.. Robert H. Fletcher, the able assistant
librarian is another epoch making accomplish
ment of the library. The Index Catalogue"
publishes approximately one volume per year SO
that obviously about Q quarter of century Is
required for the completion Of the alphabet.
On the other hand, the Index Medicus" ap-
pears four times year and indexes medical
literature both As to subjects and authors. 1t
supplements the Index Catalogue" and rem
ders it more effective. Although the Index
Medicus" was published at the Army Medical
Library 1t was never . Government publica-
ton being financed until . few years ago by
the Carnegie Institution. It Is nov published
in Chicago BY the American Medical Associa-
ton.
ONE Of the outstanding features Of the Army
~ Medical Library IS its interlibrary system.
by means of which its material, except that
which is rare and irreplaceable, Is sent to other
libraries for the use Of physicians and students
Of medicine. In the last year alone some
IL 900 loans were made to about $50 lbrArieS