Agreatportionofthebestwritingandreadingliterary，scientific，professional，miscellaneous——comestousnow，atstatedintervals，inpapercovers。Thewriterappears，asitwere，inhisshirt-sleeves。
Assoonashehasdeliveredhismessagethebook-binderputsacoatonhisback，andhejoinstheforlornbrotherhoodof“backvolumes，“
thanwhich，solongastheyareunindexed，nothingcanbemoreexasperating。Whowantsalockwithoutakey，ashipwithoutarudder，abinnaclewithoutacompass，acheckwithoutasignature，agreenbackwithoutagoldbackbehindit？
Ihavereferredchieflytothemedicaljournals，butIwouldincludewiththesethereportsofmedicalassociations，andthoseseparatepublicationswhich，comingintheformofpamphlets，heapthemselvesintochaoticpilesandbundleswhichareworsethanuseless，takingupagreatdealofroom，andfrighteningeverythingawaybutmiceandmousingantiquarians，orpossiblyatlongintervalssometerebratingspecialist。
Arranged，bound，indexed，alltheseatoncebecomeaccessibleandvaluable。Iwilltakethefirstinstancewhichhappenstosuggestitself。HowmanywhoknowallaboutosteoblastsandtheexperimentsofOllier，andallthathasgrownoutofthem，knowwheretogoforapaperbythelateDr。A。L。PeirsonofSalem，publishedintheyear1840，underthemodesttitle，RemarksonFractures？Andifanypractitionerwhohastodealwithbrokenbonesdoesnotknowthatmostexcellentandpracticalessay，itisagreatpity，foritanswersverynumerousquestionswhichwillbesuretosuggestthemselvestothesurgeonandthepatientasnooneoftherecenttreatises，onmyownshelves，atleast，cando。
Butifindexingisthespecialneedofourtimeinmedicalliterature，asineverydepartmentofknowledge，itmustberememberedthatitisnotonlyanimmenselabor，butonethatneverends。Itrequires，therefore，thecooperationofalargenumberofindividualstodothework，andalargeamountofmoneytopayformakingitsresultspublicthroughthepress。WhenitisrememberedthatthecatalogueofthelibraryoftheBritishMuseumiscontainedinnearlythreethousandlargefoliosofmanuscript，andnotallitsbooksareyetincluded，thetaskofindexinganyconsiderablebranchofscienceorliteraturelooksasifitwerewellnighimpossible。
Butmanyhandsmakelightwork。An“IndexSociety“hasbeenformedinEngland，alreadynumberingaboutonehundredandseventymembers。
Itaimsat“supplyingthoroughindexestovaluableworksandcollectionswhichhavehithertolackedthem；atissuingindexestotheliteratureofspecialsubjects；andatgatheringmaterialsforageneralreferenceindex。“Thissocietyhaspublishedalittletreatisesettingforththehistoryandtheartofindexing，whichI
trustisinthehandsofsomeofourmembers，ifnotuponourshelves。
Somethinghasbeendoneinthesamedirectionbyindividualsinourowncountry，aswehavealreadyseen。Theneedofitinthedepartmentofmedicineisbeginningtobeclearlyfelt。Ourlibraryhasalreadyanadmirablecataloguewithcrossreferences，theworkofanumberofitsyoungermemberscooperatinginthetask。Averyintelligentmedicalstudent，Mr。WilliamD。Chapin，whoseexcellentprojectisindorsedbywell-knownNewYorkphysiciansandprofessors，proposestopublishayearlyindextooriginalcommunicationsinthemedicaljournalsoftheUnitedStates，classifiedbyauthorsandsubjects。ButitisfromtheNationalMedicalLibraryatWashingtonthatwehavethebestpromiseandthelargestexpectations。Thatgreatandgrowingcollectionoffiftythousandvolumesisundertheeyeandhandofalibrarianwhoknowsbooksandhowtomanagethem。
Forlibrariesarethestandingarmiesofcivilization，andanarmyisbutamobwithoutageneralwhocanorganizeandmarshalitsoastomakeiteffective。The“SpecimenFasciculusofaCatalogueoftheNationalMedicalLibrary，“preparedunderthedirectionofDr。
Billings，thelibrarian，wouldhaveexcitedtheadmirationofHaller，themasterscholarinmedicalscienceofthelastcentury，orratheroftheprofessioninallcenturies，andifcarriedoutasitisbegunwillbetothenineteenthallandmorethanallthatthethreeBibliothecae——Anatomica，Chirurgica，andMedicinae-Practicae——weretotheeighteenthcentury。IcannotforgetthestorythatAgassizwassofondoftellingofthekingofPrussiaandFichte。ItwasafterthehumiliationandspoliationofthekingdombyNapoleonthatthemonarchaskedthephilosopherwhatcouldbedonetoregainthelostpositionofthenation。“Foundagreatuniversity，Sire，“wastheanswer，andsoitwasthatintheyear1810theworld-renownedUniversityofBerlincameintobeing。Ibelievethatweinthiscountrycandobetterthanfoundanationaluniversity，whoseprofessorsshallbenominatedincaucuses，goinandout，perhaps，likepostmasters，witheverychangeofadministration，anddealwithscienceinthefaceoftheirconstituencyasthecourtierdidwithtimewhenhissovereignaskedhimwhato’clockitwas：“Whateverhouryourmajestypleases。“ButwhenwehaveanoblelibrarylikethatatWashington，andalibrarianofexceptionalqualificationslikethegentlemanwhonowholdsthatoffice，IbelievethataliberalappropriationbyCongresstocarryoutaconscientiousworkfortheadvancementofsoundknowledgeandthebetteringofhumanconditions，likethiswhichDr。Billingshassowellbegun，wouldredoundgreatlytothehonorofthenation。Itoughttobewillingtobeatsomechargetomakeitstreasuresusefultoitscitizens，and，foritsownsake，especiallytothatclasswhichhaschargeofhealth，publicandprivate。Thiscountryaboundsinwhatarecalled“self-mademen，“
andisjustlyproudofmanywhomitthusdesignates。Inonesensenomanisself-madewhobreathestheairofacivilizedcommunity。Inanothersenseeverymanwhoisanythingotherthanaphonographonlegsisself-made。Butifweawardhisjustpraisetothemanwhohasattainedanykindofexcellencewithouthavinghadthesameadvantagesasotherswhom，nevertheless，hehasequalledorsurpassed，letusnotbebetrayedintoundervaluingthemechanic’scarefultrainingtohisbusiness，thethoroughandlaboriouseducationofthescholarandtheprofessionalman。
OurAmericanatmosphereisvocalwiththeflippantloquacityofhalfknowledge。Wemustacceptwhatevergoodcanbegotoutofit，andkeepitunderaswedosorrelandmulleinandwitchgrass，byenrichingthesoil，andsowinggoodseedinplenty；bygoodteachingandgoodbooks，ratherthanbywastingourtimeintalkingagainstit。Halfknowledgedreadsnothingbutwholeknowledge。
Ihavespokenoftheimportanceandthepredominanceofperiodicalliterature，andhaveattemptedtodojusticetoitsvalue。Butthealmostexclusivereadingofitisnotwithoutitsdangers。Thejournalscontainmuchthatiscrudeandunsound；thepresumption；itmightbemaintained，isagainsttheirnovelties，unlesstheycomefromobserversofestablishedcredit。YetIhaveknownapractitioner，——perhapsmorethanone，——whowasasmuchunderthedominantinfluenceofthelastarticlehehadreadinhisfavoritemedicaljournalasamillinerundertheswayofthelastfashion-
plate。Thedifferencebetweengreenandseasonedknowledgeisverygreat，andsuchpractitionersneverholdlongenoughtoanyoftheirknowledgetohaveitgetseasoned。
Itisneedlesstosay，then，thatallthesubstantialandpermanentliteratureoftheprofessionshouldberepresenteduponourshelves。
Muchofitistherealready，andasoneprivatelibraryafteranotherfallsintothisbythenaturallawofgravitation，itwillgraduallyacquireallthatismostvaluablealmostwithouteffort。Ascholarshouldnotbeinahurrytopartwithhisbooks。Theyareprobablymorevaluabletohimthantheycanbetoanyotherindividual。WhatSwedenborgcalled“correspondence“hasestablisheditselfbetweenhisintelligenceandthevolumeswhichwallhimwithintheirsacredinclosure。Napoleonsaidthathismindwasasiffurnishedwithdrawers，——hedrewouteachashewanteditscontents，andcloseditatwillwhendonewiththem。Thescholar’smind，touseasimilarcomparison，isfurnishedwithshelves，likehislibrary。Eachbookknowsitsplaceinthebrainaswellasagainstthewallorinthealcove。Hisconsciousnessisdoubledbythebookswhichencirclehim，asthetreesthatsurroundalakerepeatthemselvesinitsunruffledwaters。Mentalkofthenervethatrunstothepocket，butonewholoveshisbooks，andhaslivedlongwiththem，hasanervousfilamentwhichrunsfromhissensoriumtoeveryoneofthem。Or，ifImaystillletmyfancydrawitspictures，ascholar’slibraryistohimwhatatempleistotheworshipperwhofrequentsit。Thereisthealtarsacredtohisholiestexperiences。Thereisthefontwherehisnew-bornthoughtwasbaptizedandfirsthadanameinhisconsciousness。Thereisthemonumentaltabletofadeadbelief，sacredstillinthememoryofwhatitwaswhileyetalive。Novisitorcanreadallthisontheletteredbacksofthebooksthathavegatheredaroundthescholar，butforhim，fromtheAldusonthelowestshelftotheElzevironthehighest，everyvolumehasalanguagewhichnonebutbecaninterpret。Bepatientwiththebook-
collectorwholoveshiscompanionstoowelltoletthemgo。Booksarenotburiedwiththeirowners，andtheveriestbook-miserthateverlivedwasprobablydoingfarmoreforhissuccessorsthanhismoreliberalneighborwhodespisedhislearnedorunlearnedavarice。
Letthefruitfallwiththeleavesstillclingingroundit。WhowouldhavestrippedSouthey’swallsofthebooksthatfilledthem，when，hismindnolongercapableoftakingintheirmeaning，hewouldstillpatandfondlethemwiththevaguelovingsenseofwhattheyhadoncebeentohim，——tohim，thegreatscholar，nowlikealittlechildamonghisplaythings？
Weneedinthiscountrynotonlythescholar，butthevirtuoso，whohoardsthetreasureswhichheloves，itmaybechieflyfortheirrarityandbecauseotherswhoknowmorethanhedoesoftheirvaluesetahighpriceuponthem。Asthewineofoldvintagesisgentlydecantedoutofitscobwebbedbottleswiththeirrottencorksintocleannewreceptacles，sothewealthoftheNewWorldisquietlyemptyingmanyofthelibrariesandgalleriesoftheOldWorldintoitsnewlyformedcollectionsandnewlyraisededifices。Andthisprocessmustgooninanacceleratingratio。NoEnglishmanwillbeoffendedifIsaythatbeforetheNewZealandertakeshisstandonabrokenarchofLondonBridgetosketchtheruinsofSt。Paul’sinthemidstofavastsolitude，thetreasuresoftheBritishMuseumwillhavefoundanewshelterinthehallsofNewYorkorBoston。NoCatholicwillthinkhardlyofmysayingthatbeforetheColiseumfalls，andwithittheimperialcity，whosedoomprophecyhaslinkedwiththatofthealmosteternalamphitheatre，themarbles，thebronzes，thepaintings，themanuscriptsoftheVaticanwillhavelefttheshoresoftheTiberforthoseofthePotomac，theHudson，theMississippi，ortheSacramento。Andwhatadelightinthepursuitoftheraritieswhichtheeagerbook-hunterfollowswiththescentofabeagle！
ShallIeverforgetthatrainydayinLyons，thatdingybookshop，whereIfoundtheAetius，longmissingfrommyArtisbledicaePrincipes，andwhereIboughtforasmallpecuniaryconsideration，thoughitwasmarkedrare，andwasreallytresrare，theAphorismsofHippocrates，editedbyandwithaprefacefromthehandofFrancisRabelais？Andthevellum-boundTulpius，whichIcameuponinVenice，afterwardsmyonlyreadingwhenimprisonedinquarantineatMarseilles，sothatthetwohundredandtwenty-eightcaseshehasrecordedare，manyofthem，tothisdaystillfreshinmymemory。
AndtheSchenckius，——thefoliofilledwithcasusrariores，whichhadstrayedinamongtherubbishofthebookstallontheboulevard，——andthenobleoldVesaliuswithitsgrandfrontispiecenotunworthyofTitian，andthefineoldAmbroisePare，longwaitedforeveninParisandlongago，andthecolossalSpigeliuswithhisevisceratedbeauties，andDutchBidloowithitsmiraclesoffineengravingandbaddissection，andItalianMascagni，thedespairofallwould-beimitators，andpre-AdamiteJohndeKetam，andantediluvianBerengariusCarpensis，——butwhymultiplynames，everyoneofwhichbringsbacktheaccessionofabookwhichwasaneventalmostlikethebirthofaninfant？
Alibrarylikeoursmustexercisethelargesthospitality。Agreatmanybooksmaybefoundineverylargecollectionwhichremindusofthoseapostoliclookingoldmenwhofigureontheplatformatourpoliticalandotherassemblages。Someofthemhavespokenwordsofwisdomintheirday，buttheyhaveceasedtobeoracles；someofthemneverhadanyparticularlyimportantmessageforhumanity，buttheyadddignitytothemeetingbytheirpresence；theylookwise，whethertheyaresoornot，andnoonegrudgesthemtheirplacesofhonor。
Venerablefigure-heads，whatwouldourplatformsbewithoutyou？
Justsowithourlibraries。Withouttheirrowsoffoliosincreamyvellum，orshowingtheirblackbackswithantiqueletteringoftarnishedgold，ourshelveswouldlookasinsufficientandunbalancedasacolumnwithoutitsbase，asastatuewithoutitspedestal。Anddonotthinktheyarekeptonlytobespankedanddustedduringthatdreadfulperiodwhentheirownerisbuttoothankfultobecomeanexileandawandererfromthesceneofsinglecombatsbetweendeadauthorsandlivinghousemaids。MenwerenotallcowardsbeforeAgamemnonorallfoolsbeforethedaysofVirchowandBillroth。Andapartfromanypracticalusetobederivedfromtheoldermedicalauthors，istherenotatruepleasureinreadingtheaccountsofgreatdiscoverersintheirownwords？IdonotpretendtohoistuptheBibliothecaAnatomicaofMangetusandspreaditonmytableeveryday。IdonotgetoutmygreatAlbinusbeforeeverylectureonthemuscles，nordisturbthemajesticreposeofVesaliuseverytimeI
speakoftheboneshehassoadmirablydescribedandfigured。Butitdoespleasemetoreadthefirstdescriptionsofpartstowhichthenamesoftheirdiscoverersorthosewhohavefirstdescribedthemhavebecomesojoinedthatnotevenmodernsciencecanpartthem；tolistentothetalkofmyoldvolumeasWillisdescribeshiscircleandFallopiushisaqueductandVaroliushisbridgeandEustachiushistubeandMonrohisforamen，——allsowellknowntousinthehumanbody；itdoespleasemetoknowtheverywordsinwhichWinslowdescribedtheopeningwhichbearshisname，andGlissonhiscapsuleandDeGraafhisvesicle；IamnotcontentuntilIknowinwhatlanguageHarveyannouncedhisdiscoveryofthecirculation，andhowSpigeliusmadetheliverhisperpetualmemorial，andMalpighifoundamonumentmoreenduringthanbrassinthecorpusclesofthespleenandthekidney。
Butafterall，thereaderswhocaremostfortheearlyrecordsofmedicalscienceandartarethespecialistswhoaredividingupthepracticeofmedicineandsurgeryastheywereparcelledout，accordingtoHerodotus，bytheEgyptians。Forthemnothingistooold，nothingistoonew，fortotheirbooksofailothersisapplicablethesayingofD’Alembertthattheauthorkillshimselfinlengtheningoutwhatthereaderkillshimselfintryingtoshorten。
Therearepracticalbooksamongtheseancientvolumeswhichcannevergrowold。Wouldyouknowhowtorecognize“malehysteria“andtotreatit，takedownyourSydenham；wouldyoureadtheexperienceofaphysicianwhowashimselfthesubjectofasthma，andwho，notwithstandingthat，inthewordsofDr。Johnson，“pantedontillninety，“youwillfinditinthevenerabletreatiseofSirJohnFloyer；wouldyoulistentothestoryoftheKing’sEvilcuredbytheroyaltouch，astoldbyafamouschirurgeonwhofullybelievedinit，gotoWiseman；wouldyougetatfirsthandthedescriptionofthespinaldiseasewhichlongborehisname，donotbestartledifItellyoutogotoPott，——toPercivalPott，thegreatsurgeonofthelastcentury。
Therecomesatimeforeverybookinalibrarywhenitiswantedbysomebody。ItisbutafewweekssinceoneofthemostcelebratedphysiciansinthecountrywrotetomefromagreatcentreofmedicaleducationtoknowifIhadtheworksofSanctorius，whichhehadtriedinvaintofind。Icouldhavelenthimthe“MedicinaStatica，“
withitsfrontispieceshowingSanctoriuswithhisdinneronthetablebeforehim，inhisbalancedchairwhichsunkwithhimbelowthelevelofhisbanquet-boardwhenhehadswallowedacertainnumberofounces，——anearlyforeshadowingofPettenkofer’schamberandquantitativephysiology，——butthe“OperaOmnia“ofSanctoriusIhadnevermetwith，andIfearhehadtodowithoutit。