Letter of the Day: April 23

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02203

April 23, 1897.

Mr. Henry C. Mansfield, D.D.S.
Jefferson, Wis.

Dear Sir:

Your letter of the 21st instant, has been received. I shall always be glad to receive for deposit in the Museum contributions showing advance in dentistry, and you may send them in the same manner as heretofore, freight charges to be paid here. Your suggestion that dentists, before destroying their original plaster moulds of interesting cases, might save duplicates for this Museum, is a very good one, but my experience is that the busy practitioner rarely thinks that he can spare time for such work. I shall be pleased to receive the casts in the case of the cleft palate mentioned by you.

I have not the name or address of the "New York dentist that has gotten up a special mould" nor have I access to the "New Ideas" published in Philadelphia and can, therefore, be of no assistance to you in this matter.

Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum and Library Division

Letter of the Day: April 4

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03802

War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets, S.W.

Washington, April 4, 1899

Dr. J.W. Grant,
Danville Avenue
Lancaster, Ky.

Dear Sir:

Referring to your letter of the 29th ult., in regard to an old and worn out set of artificial teeth, I would state that I cannot make you an offer for the same, without previous inspection. In case, however, you should desire to present it to this Museum, it will be placed in the Museum collection, properly labeled, and credit given you as donor. It may be sent directed to the Army Medical Museum, by Adams express, which has authority to receive it and collect charges here.

Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division

Letter of the Day: January 11

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01948

January 11, 1897

Dr. L. Campbell,
Slatington, Pa.

Dear Sir:

I answer to your letter of the 7th inst. I would state that we have several specimens of the effect of scorbutus on the jaw of grown persons, but none in a child. and I should, therefore, be pleased to receive the specimen referred to.

If you conclude to donate it to the Museum, please have it packed in a box marked: Army Medical Museum, Cor. 7th and B sts, S.W., Washington, D.C., and send it by Adams Express, which has authority to receive and forward it and collect freight charges here.

Very respectfully,

D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum and Library Division

Letter of the Day: January 7

See Dr. Huntington's reply on January 11, 1897

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01948

Established 1870
Treating and Filling
Crowns in Porcelain and Gold
Artifical Teeth
Bridge Work, etc.

Dr. L. Campbell's
Dental Rooms

Slatington, Pa., Jan 7th, 1867

Dr. D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General
Washington
D.C.

My Dear Doctor

I am in receipt of the Report of the Committee on the National Dental Museum + Library and certainly am in sympathy with such a grand movement and will do all I can for the sucess of it I have a case of "Scorbutus" in a child 2 yrs old a rare case although I do not like to part with it still I may send it I have the teeth of lower jaw all mounted on a plaster cast shape of jaw and set are the same as in the mouth let me know if you have any such case at the Museum

Respectfully
L. Campbell

Letter of the Day: December 13

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1094

War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.,
Washington, D.C., December 13, 1895

Dr. J.S. Billings,
Laboratory of Hygiene,
University of Pennsylvania,
34th and Locust Sts.,
West Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Dr. Billings:

I herewith enclose a letter received this day from Mr. Wm. S. Bonwill, of Philadelphia, in regard to a collection of his inventions in medical and dental surgery.

Will you kindly read the letter and return it to me with any information you may have regarding the man or his offer.

Very sincerely yours,

D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum and Library Division.


My dear Dr Huntington

Dr Bonwill is a very ingenious dentist who has invented a number of instruments and devices. The best known of which is the “Dental Engine” which every dentist uses. His is somewhat cranky and appreciates himself highly. I would suggest a polite reply delivering thanks, and saying that this will be a valuable addition etc. etc.

Very truly yours
JS Billings.

Letter of the Day: December 12

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1094

2009 Chestnut St.,
Philadelphia, PA.

12/12/95 – 1:30. a.m.

Dr. Billings:

Dear Dr:-

Let this be my Will and Testament so far as the present gift is concerned.

At my death or sooner if I so conclude I desire that the Army and Medical Museum at Washington D.C. shall have the large collection of models of all my Inventions in Medical and Dental Surgery for the past forty years. The collection is the largest of any individual in the Dental and perhaps Medical Profession and which have marked an era and are entirely unique.

You may hold this as your security against all others who might claim it.

I will have them systematically arranged on Tablets and with full index that each can be easily designated and the full history of invention and discovery of one man in 40 years.

Kindly reply,
I am Sincerely,

Wm. S. Bonwill

Letter of the Day: September 21

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 6995

 

THE KNY-SCHEERER CO.,

225-233 FOURTH AVENUE,

Department of Natural Science,

G. LAGAI, Ph.D.

Telephone Call, 6314 18^th

 

New York, Sept. 21, 1903.

 

Col. C.L. Heizmann,

Col. Asst. Surgeon General,

U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,

7^th and B Sts. SW.,

Washington, D.C.

 

Dear Sir:-

 

Complying with your request of Sept. 18^th, and referring to our letter of Sept. 19^th, we take pleasure in handing you enclosed a list of the 48 models of the diseases of the human teeth, also a special list of 15 models of abnormities and diseased conditions of the human skin.

 

The models are greatly enlarged, but we are sorry to say that we cannot give you the exact size, as we do not carry the same in New York stock.

 

We shall be pleased to be favored with your order, and remain,

 

Very respectfully yours,

 

THE KNY-SCHEERER CO.,

Dept. of Nat. Science.

 

Dict. Dr. L.

 

 

 

Letter of the Day: September 20 (2 of 2)

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 925

 

September 20, 1895

 

Dr. Williams Donnally

#1022 Fourteenth St., N.W.,

Washington, D.C.

 

Dear Sir:

 

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of September 16^th, inviting attention to the action of the American Dental Association in relation to the Army Medical Museum, as reported in the “Dental Cosmos,” and in reply will say that we shall be most happy to cooperate with your Committee with a view to the formation of a collection thoroughly illustrative of all matters pertaining to the subject of dentistry.

 

Our Museum already contains quite an extensive list of casts of maxillae illustrating physiological and pathological dentition, presented b Dr. Samuel Sexton, of New York City; also a number of miscellaneous specimens, casts, etc., from various sources, as  well as quite a complete anatomical exhibit of the normal development of the teeth.

 

With regard to the contributions considered desirable., I would suggest casts, photographs and specimens of anomalous dentition, diseases of the maxillae and oral cavity; photographs or casts of surgical operations, showing, if possible the condition of the parts before and after operation; photographs of prosthetic apparatus, and all miscellaneous exhibits which may lend an interest to the subject of dentistry. All specimens, casts, etc., should be accurately labeled, and a concise description or history given when possible.

 

In any matter of detail on this subject we shall be ready at any time to give you advice or suggestion.

 

Very respectfully,

D.L. Huntington

Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,

In charge of Army Medical Museum and Library.

 

Letter of the Day: June 23 - dental collections

At one time, the Museum was an official repository for dental history. As noted in The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology: Its First Century 1862-1962 by ROBERT S. HENRY, A.B., LL.B., LITT.D. - “The first formal arrangement between the Museum and civilian medicine took place in 1895, when the American Dental Association adopted the Museum as a repository for study materials in the field of dentistry.”

 

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 8422

 

War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington, June 23, 1905

 

Dr.  W. N. Cogan,

The Sherman,

Washington, D.C.

 

Sir:

 

I am directed by the Surgeon General to express his thanks for the scalers and an automatic mallet, used in dental surgery, received from you the 22d inst. They will be added to the collection with properly inscribed cards.

 

Very respectfully,

 

C.L. Heinzmann

Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.

In charge of Museum & Library Division

Photo of the day, March 23

From our Hollister Collection, OHA 193. 100 percent perfect condition of teeth. First grade. 03/23/1925.

Photo of the day, March 12

From our Clark J. Hollister, DDS, Collection. He was an early dental hygiene advocate who established & directed the dental division of the PA Dept. of Health, 1920-1933.

Just think about this many kids being cavity-free in 1925, in pre-fluoride days. How'd they do it?

100 percent perfect condition of teeth. Sixth grade. 03/12/1925. Photos of Hollister and his office, 1908 - 1940's; Hollister Collection; OHA 193.

Brush your teeth

Here's a pretty neat super-zoom of the surface of a tooth.

Just ignore the flat-stomach ad off to the right of the video - they're not talking to you.

Washington Post on dental care

Today's Washington Post has an excellent article on the problems of dental care in Louisiana. It's well worth reading about the volunteer work that Dr. Folse does.

Their ongoing report, "The Other Walter Reed" was on the same page too, so might as well link to it. We in the museum are completely in a different world from the patient care issues beyond passing each other in the cafeteria though.