Mike Rhode
Friday, September 9, 2011
I'm done folks
Mike Rhode
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Well, sadly the Museum outlasted the AFIP
September sees the end of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. It grew out of the Museum during World War II, and took the Museum over after the War, but due to BRAC it's been closed and some of its functions divided. Bits of the AFIP's tenure remain of course - lots of AFIP numbered specimens are in the Museum, and lots of former Museum specimens will be in the Joint Pathology Center. The numbering systems remain intertwined. And of course this blog is named for a remark by an AFIP head.
I found it in a quote from one of the former curators. World War II confirmed the Army Medical Museum's primary role in pathology consultation. James Ash, the curator during the war and a pathologist, noted, "Shortly after the last war, more concerted efforts were instituted to concentrate in the Army Medical Museum the significant pathologic material occurring in Army installations." He closed with the complaint, "We still suffer under the connotation museum, an institution still thought of by many as a repository for bottled monsters and medical curiosities. To be sure, we have such specimens. As is required by law, we maintain an exhibit open to the public, but in war time, at least, the museum per se is the least of our functions, and we like to be thought of as the Army Institute of Pathology, a designation recently authorized by the Surgeon General."
I found it in a quote from one of the former curators. World War II confirmed the Army Medical Museum's primary role in pathology consultation. James Ash, the curator during the war and a pathologist, noted, "Shortly after the last war, more concerted efforts were instituted to concentrate in the Army Medical Museum the significant pathologic material occurring in Army installations." He closed with the complaint, "We still suffer under the connotation museum, an institution still thought of by many as a repository for bottled monsters and medical curiosities. To be sure, we have such specimens. As is required by law, we maintain an exhibit open to the public, but in war time, at least, the museum per se is the least of our functions, and we like to be thought of as the Army Institute of Pathology, a designation recently authorized by the Surgeon General."
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
National Public Radio's Walter Reed series
NPR writes in, "Thanks again for all of your help with this As the different stories of the six-part series air this week, they will be added to this page: http://www.npr.org/series/139793002/closing-walter-reed"
Topics on the Pathology of Protozoan and Invasive Arthropod Diseases - last AFIP publication
Topics on the Pathology of Protozoan and Invasive Arthropod Diseases - the last AFIP publication - is available on the web for downloading for free.
Here's the description:
This e-book, Topics on the Pathology of Protozoan and Invasive Arthropod Diseases, was originally conceived as a companion volume of our earlier book, Pathology of Infectious Diseases, Helminthiases, published in the year 2000. During the production of the current volume, however, administrative circumstances were not conducive to its publication as a hardcover book. We are pleased nevertheless to be able to present this treatise on protozoan and invasive arthropod related diseases electronically. As such, a great advantage is that it will be available freely to a wider audience; not just to the so-called developed world, but to less affluent and more remote areas-- in fact to anyone with access to the internet worldwide. This publication comes at an appropriate time when there is ever increasing attention being given to the neglected tropical diseases of this world, and as world travel is increasing. Pathologists highly experienced in many of the diseases discussed here are often not locally available, increasing the likelihood that accurate diagnoses will be unduly delayed.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Walter Reed Army Medical Center's end covered by Washington Post
Two military medical icons become one - an article about the closing, and, Final Walter Reed patients move- a photo gallery of images.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Build your own medical museum
The NY Times is reporting on the auction of a medical history collection.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
THE GROG, Summer 2011-- A Journal of Navy Medical History and Culture
Dear Colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that we present the Summer 2011 edition of THE GROG. In this edition we examine the Navy Medical Department's role in the Coal Medical Survey of 1947 and how it came about. We follow this with a spirited assortment of original articles including Dr. James Alsop's look at Navy hospital care in 1812, Jan Herman's account of working in documentary films, Leanne Gradijan's statistical report of physicians in the Civil War and much more. As always we hope you enjoy your humble tour of Navy medicine's past.
THE GROG is accessible through the link below. If you prefer a PDF version to be sent directly to your inbox please let us know. For all those who have already requested to be put on the PDF mailing list a low resolution version will be sent to you shortly.
Link to THE GROG, Summer 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_summer_2011
Very Respectfully,
André
André B. Sobocinski
Deputy Historian and Publications Mgr.
Office of Medical History (M00H)
Dr. Benjamin Rush Education and Conference Ctr.
Navy Medicine Institute for the Medical Humanities (NMI)
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED)
Tel: 202.762.3244
Fax: 202.762.3380
E-Mail: andre.sobocinski@med.navy.mil
Got Grog?
Summer 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_summer_2011
Spring 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_spring_2011
It is with great pleasure that we present the Summer 2011 edition of THE GROG. In this edition we examine the Navy Medical Department's role in the Coal Medical Survey of 1947 and how it came about. We follow this with a spirited assortment of original articles including Dr. James Alsop's look at Navy hospital care in 1812, Jan Herman's account of working in documentary films, Leanne Gradijan's statistical report of physicians in the Civil War and much more. As always we hope you enjoy your humble tour of Navy medicine's past.
THE GROG is accessible through the link below. If you prefer a PDF version to be sent directly to your inbox please let us know. For all those who have already requested to be put on the PDF mailing list a low resolution version will be sent to you shortly.
Link to THE GROG, Summer 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_summer_2011
Very Respectfully,
André
André B. Sobocinski
Deputy Historian and Publications Mgr.
Office of Medical History (M00H)
Dr. Benjamin Rush Education and Conference Ctr.
Navy Medicine Institute for the Medical Humanities (NMI)
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED)
Tel: 202.762.3244
Fax: 202.762.3380
E-Mail: andre.sobocinski@med.navy.mil
Got Grog?
Summer 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_summer_2011
Spring 2011
http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_spring_2011
Museum public program photos online
They've been going to the Museum's website at http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum/events/recent_programs.html and are taken by new Museum photographer Matthew Breitbart.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Rhode's new assignment details
I'll be at the Office of the Medical Historian which is described here, setting up their archives, describing records and making them more accessible to researchers including 12,000 BUMED images that were scanned by AFIP and the Museum, some of which can be seen on the Flickr page.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
FW: Rhode leaving medical museum
Dear colleagues and friends,
It is with distinct melancholy that I will be resigning my post as chief archivist and leaving the National Museum of Health and Medicine on September 9, 2011 for a promotion as archivist in the US Navy Bureau of
Medicine's Office of Medical History (which is also in Washington, DC). It has been a pleasure and an honor to have built and led the Otis Historical Archives for the Museum and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology over the past twenty-two years. I trust I have lived up to museum curator George Otis' inspiring example.
Michael Rhode, Archivist
Otis Historical Archives
National Museum of Health and Medicine
Washington, DC 20306-6000
202-782-2212
http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum
http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/collections/archives/archives.html
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Nature on 'Death of a pathology centre'
|
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Sunday, August 7, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
City Paper on Walter Reed's closing
Fast Times at Walter Reed
by Lydia DePillis on Aug. 4, 2011
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/08/04/fast-times-at-walter-reed/
Monday, August 1, 2011
Former Museum Assistant Director of Collections wins award
James TH Connor, the former Museum Assistant Director of Collections has won the Dr. Wallace Ingram award at Memorial University Newfoundland.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Creative use of Museum's Civil War photos at Flickr
Here's a nice research use of the Civil War pictures we've been putting online -
From: Brendan Hamilton
I've recently been looking through the fantastic gallery of Civil War medical photographs you and your colleagues have been putting up on Flickr, and I got the idea of writing up brief profiles of the soldiers in them and posting them on my blog: http://vanishedhand.blogspot.com/
As a Civil War geek and poet, I'm more interested in the human side than the clinical info., so I thought I'd dig through the muster rolls, census info, etc., to try to paint some picture of who these people are. A macabre effort but that's what grabs me. I've only written up one soldier so far but I intend to do more in the coming weeks.
- his one soldier is Frederick Bentley.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Medical Museum Science Café, featuring author Matthew Algeo
When: Tuesday, July 12, 2011, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: Silver Spring Civic Center, Fenton Room
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
http://www.silverspringdowntown.com
What: In "The President Is a Sick Man," author and journalist Matthew Algeo offers the first full account of a monumental political scandal that shook the Gilded Age. In July 1893, President Grover Cleveland boarded a yacht somewhere off Long Island Sound and seemingly vanished for five days. What the American public did not know was that a dream team of surgeons had been assembled on the boat to remove a cancerous growth from Cleveland’s jaw (the Museum has histological slides with samples of the tumor). When a reporter attempted to expose the truth behind the president’s disappearance, he was immediately discredited by White House staff who had decided Americans could not know the truth.
Join this discussion about public perception and presidential health. Copies of the book will be available for purchase; a book signing will follow.
Presented by the National Museum of Health and Medicine
Cost: Free
Where: Silver Spring Civic Center, Fenton Room
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
http://www.silverspringdowntown.com
What: In "The President Is a Sick Man," author and journalist Matthew Algeo offers the first full account of a monumental political scandal that shook the Gilded Age. In July 1893, President Grover Cleveland boarded a yacht somewhere off Long Island Sound and seemingly vanished for five days. What the American public did not know was that a dream team of surgeons had been assembled on the boat to remove a cancerous growth from Cleveland’s jaw (the Museum has histological slides with samples of the tumor). When a reporter attempted to expose the truth behind the president’s disappearance, he was immediately discredited by White House staff who had decided Americans could not know the truth.
Join this discussion about public perception and presidential health. Copies of the book will be available for purchase; a book signing will follow.
Presented by the National Museum of Health and Medicine
Cost: Free
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
July 13: NLM History of Medicine Seminar - Cassedy Memorial Lecture
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
History of Medicine Division Seminar
Fourth Annual James H. Cassedy Memorial Lecture
Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Lister Hill Auditorium
NLM Building 38A
Bethesda, MD
"The Image of Modern Medicine: Aesthetic Belonging and the American Doctor, 1880-1950."
John Harley Warner, Yale University
Distinguished scholar John Harley Warner, Avalon Professor and Chair, History of Medicine, and Professor of History, Yale University, has long studied the cultural and social history of medicine in 19th and 20th century America. This presentation will examine clinical practice, orthodox and alternative healing, the multiple meanings of scientific medicine, and the interactions among identity, narrative, and aesthetic in the grounding of modern medicine.
All are welcome.
History of Medicine Division Seminar
Fourth Annual James H. Cassedy Memorial Lecture
Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Lister Hill Auditorium
NLM Building 38A
Bethesda, MD
"The Image of Modern Medicine: Aesthetic Belonging and the American Doctor, 1880-1950."
John Harley Warner, Yale University
Distinguished scholar John Harley Warner, Avalon Professor and Chair, History of Medicine, and Professor of History, Yale University, has long studied the cultural and social history of medicine in 19th and 20th century America. This presentation will examine clinical practice, orthodox and alternative healing, the multiple meanings of scientific medicine, and the interactions among identity, narrative, and aesthetic in the grounding of modern medicine.
All are welcome.
For future programs, consult the NLM History of Medicine Division Seminar webpage:
www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/happening/seminars/index.html
www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/happening/seminars/index.html
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Where are we?
Blog posts are getting fewer and further between because the packing of the museum for its move to Forest Glen, MD is well under way. Historical Collections is largely packed up, as is the Human Developmental Anatomy Center. Anatomical Collection’s specimens in formalin are about half packed, and the Archives is due to be packed mid-month. We’re moving to a new command so our email and Internet addresses all are changing too. So our access to everything is lessened for a few months, but please bear with us.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 28
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 04678
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW.,
Washington,June 28, 1900.
Capt. Edgar A. Mearns
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
(Through Chief Surgeon Dept. of the East)
Sir:
The Surgeon General directs me to acknowledge receiveing a specimen of aneurism of the aorta, case of Sgt. John F. Walsh, Batty. "I" 7th Arty., and the history of the case dated 25th inst., in making contributions to the Museum of such illustrations of pathology is always much appreciated.
Respectfully,
[Lieut. Col. A.A. Woodhull]
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW.,
Washington,June 28, 1900.
Capt. Edgar A. Mearns
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
(Through Chief Surgeon Dept. of the East)
Sir:
The Surgeon General directs me to acknowledge receiveing a specimen of aneurism of the aorta, case of Sgt. John F. Walsh, Batty. "I" 7th Arty., and the history of the case dated 25th inst., in making contributions to the Museum of such illustrations of pathology is always much appreciated.
Respectfully,
[Lieut. Col. A.A. Woodhull]
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
New Civil War pictures added to Flickr
We’re finally away from the images of shattered bones, and you can see living men surviving their wounds at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/medicalmuseum/
Monday, June 27, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 27
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 05310
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library.
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, June 27, 1901.
To the Post Surgeon
Columbia Barracks,
Quemados, Cuba.
Sir:
At the time of my departure from your station I left on hand in Pathological Laboratory one incubator, under the impression that it was not part of the property for which I was responsible. I now find, however, that this incubator is borne on my annual return and I, therefore, enclose herewith the proper invoices and request that you will be kind enough to receipt me for the same.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
major & Surgeon, U.S.A.
(3 Enclosures)
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library.
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, June 27, 1901.
To the Post Surgeon
Columbia Barracks,
Quemados, Cuba.
Sir:
At the time of my departure from your station I left on hand in Pathological Laboratory one incubator, under the impression that it was not part of the property for which I was responsible. I now find, however, that this incubator is borne on my annual return and I, therefore, enclose herewith the proper invoices and request that you will be kind enough to receipt me for the same.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
major & Surgeon, U.S.A.
(3 Enclosures)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 24
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 05301
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library.
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW.,
Washington, June 24, 1901.
Dr. M.P. Overholser,
Harrisonville, MO.
My Dear Doctor:
In compliance with your request of recent date, I have mailed to your address a copy of the paper which was read at the Pan-American Congress in February last. A previous paper on the same subject appears in the last Vol. of Transactions of the American Public Health Association; a later paper was read at the meeting of the Association of American Physicians, held in this city May 2-5, 1901, and will shortly appear, I hope, in American Medicine (Dr. Gould's new journal).
I regret to say that I know of no recent literature on the transmission of malaria by the mosquito in either the French or English language, nor anything relating to the propagation of yellow fever, except what I have mentioned above.
Very truly yours,
Walter Reed
Major & Surgeon, U.S. Army.
[hand notation]
Letter of Dr. O. not received for file. P.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library.
Corner of 7th and B Streets SW.,
Washington, June 24, 1901.
Dr. M.P. Overholser,
Harrisonville, MO.
My Dear Doctor:
In compliance with your request of recent date, I have mailed to your address a copy of the paper which was read at the Pan-American Congress in February last. A previous paper on the same subject appears in the last Vol. of Transactions of the American Public Health Association; a later paper was read at the meeting of the Association of American Physicians, held in this city May 2-5, 1901, and will shortly appear, I hope, in American Medicine (Dr. Gould's new journal).
I regret to say that I know of no recent literature on the transmission of malaria by the mosquito in either the French or English language, nor anything relating to the propagation of yellow fever, except what I have mentioned above.
Very truly yours,
Walter Reed
Major & Surgeon, U.S. Army.
[hand notation]
Letter of Dr. O. not received for file. P.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 23
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02342
June 23, 1897
Mr. Albert Worsham
National home, D.V.S.
Hampton, Va.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 20th inst. has been received and in reply I would say that the eight-legged kitten referred to is not desired for this Museum. It has no commercial value.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
June 23, 1897
Mr. Albert Worsham
National home, D.V.S.
Hampton, Va.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 20th inst. has been received and in reply I would say that the eight-legged kitten referred to is not desired for this Museum. It has no commercial value.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 22
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02340
June 22, 1897
Major Sam Q. Robinson,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Fort Reno, O.T.
Dear Sir:
In answer to your inquiry of the 17th inst. I would state that the 7 inch centipede, mounted dry, is not desired for the Museum collection. Thanking you for your kind offer, I remain,
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
June 22, 1897
Major Sam Q. Robinson,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Fort Reno, O.T.
Dear Sir:
In answer to your inquiry of the 17th inst. I would state that the 7 inch centipede, mounted dry, is not desired for the Museum collection. Thanking you for your kind offer, I remain,
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 21
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03961
June 21, 1899
1st Lieut. C. B. Millhoff,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Comdg. U.S. Genl. Hospital,
Camp Meade, Pa.
Sir:
The sample of blood sent by you on the 20th inst. in the case of Private Frank Gallay, Co. I, 2nd U.S. Vol. Infty., has been examined and gives a positive reaction. The case appears to be one of typhoid fever. Box returned herewith.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Major & Surgeon,
U.S. Army
June 21, 1899
1st Lieut. C. B. Millhoff,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Comdg. U.S. Genl. Hospital,
Camp Meade, Pa.
Sir:
The sample of blood sent by you on the 20th inst. in the case of Private Frank Gallay, Co. I, 2nd U.S. Vol. Infty., has been examined and gives a positive reaction. The case appears to be one of typhoid fever. Box returned herewith.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Major & Surgeon,
U.S. Army
Monday, June 20, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 20
AEM/caw
20 June 1960
Mr. Isidore B. Meyer
Coordinator of Exhibit
Civil War Centennial
Jewish Historical Commission
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York 28, New York
Dear Mr. Meyer:
Reference is made to your letter of 10 June relative to the loan of operating instruments for incorporation in your Centennial Exhibit.
These insturments, presently on loan to the B'nai B'rith Museum in Washington, will be made available to you on or about the 15th of October 1960.
As these items are not insured, it would be appreciated if you could have them insured for five hundred dolares ($500.00).
If we can be of any further assistance to you, please feel free to write.
Sincerely yours,
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
20 June 1960
Mr. Isidore B. Meyer
Coordinator of Exhibit
Civil War Centennial
Jewish Historical Commission
1109 Fifth Avenue
New York 28, New York
Dear Mr. Meyer:
Reference is made to your letter of 10 June relative to the loan of operating instruments for incorporation in your Centennial Exhibit.
These insturments, presently on loan to the B'nai B'rith Museum in Washington, will be made available to you on or about the 15th of October 1960.
As these items are not insured, it would be appreciated if you could have them insured for five hundred dolares ($500.00).
If we can be of any further assistance to you, please feel free to write.
Sincerely yours,
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
Letter of the Day: June 20
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06780
Army Medical Museum,
June 20, 1903.
Circular Order.
Hereafter no employs of the Surgeon General's Office, except commissioned Officers connected therewith, Dr. Fletcher, Dr. Hodge, Dr. Garrison, the Principal Clerks of the Divisions, Mr. Stone, Mr. Myers, Mr. Clark and Mr. Hardy of the Library, will be admitted to this building on Sundays. Also Dr. Lamb [handwritten note]
The night watchman must remain on duty until 8 A.M. The Superintendent of the building will instruct the watchman and see that these orders are strictly complied with.
Calvin DeWitt
Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
June 27, 1903.
Besides the persons above mentioned, Dr. D.S. Lamb and Mr. B Israeli will also be admitted on Sundays.
By order of Col C. DeWitt, Asst. Surgeon General U.S.A.
Coj[?] Myers
Army Medical Museum,
June 20, 1903.
Circular Order.
Hereafter no employs of the Surgeon General's Office, except commissioned Officers connected therewith, Dr. Fletcher, Dr. Hodge, Dr. Garrison, the Principal Clerks of the Divisions, Mr. Stone, Mr. Myers, Mr. Clark and Mr. Hardy of the Library, will be admitted to this building on Sundays. Also Dr. Lamb [handwritten note]
The night watchman must remain on duty until 8 A.M. The Superintendent of the building will instruct the watchman and see that these orders are strictly complied with.
Calvin DeWitt
Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
June 27, 1903.
Besides the persons above mentioned, Dr. D.S. Lamb and Mr. B Israeli will also be admitted on Sundays.
By order of Col C. DeWitt, Asst. Surgeon General U.S.A.
Coj[?] Myers
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 19
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02339
June 19, 1897
Captain W. O. Owen
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Fort Bayard, N.M.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of a barbed-wire fence staple removed from the throat of a child aged four months.
The Surgeon General desires me to thank you for this addition to the Museum collection.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division
June 19, 1897
Captain W. O. Owen
Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Fort Bayard, N.M.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of a barbed-wire fence staple removed from the throat of a child aged four months.
The Surgeon General desires me to thank you for this addition to the Museum collection.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Museum & AFIP's history book now available
Our friends at the Borden Institute produced a book on the history of the Museum & AFIP for us this year, which was written by the AFIP's public affairs officer Paul Stone with the assistance of Archivists Mike Rhode & Kathleen Stocker. You can download it here:
Legacy of Excellence: The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1862-2011 - Provides a narrative and photographic history of the AFIP (originally the Army Medical Museum) from its beginning during the Civil War, through the development of the modern field of pathology in the 20th century, to the response to 9/11 and beyond in the 21st century. This book is available for purchase only through the Government Printing Office (see Ordering Information).
Legacy of Excellence: The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, 1862-2011 - Provides a narrative and photographic history of the AFIP (originally the Army Medical Museum) from its beginning during the Civil War, through the development of the modern field of pathology in the 20th century, to the response to 9/11 and beyond in the 21st century. This book is available for purchase only through the Government Printing Office (see Ordering Information).
Letter of the Day: June 18
FMT/AEM/caw
18 June 1959
MM
Captain Mauro Gangai, MC
1st Hospitalization Unit
45 Field Hospital
APO 19, New York, N.Y.
Dear Captain Gangai:
Reference is made to your letter of 8 June 1959 relative to obtaining mounted gross specimens and microscopic slides.
The Institute prepares both macropathological and micropathological material for itself and for use by requesting organizations of the Armed Forces. While the Institute does not prepare material for sale, it does have a training program in the technique of preparation and mounting of gross material in which accepted students may learn modern gross mounting methods.
Glass is no longer employed as a mounting medium for gross specimens. the old glass jars have been replaced with plastic containers which are cheaper and more useful.
While commercial sources are somewhat uncertain, Mr. Robert E. Mincey, Bird L. Color Hospital, Welfare Island, New York, is reportedly engaged in a semi-commercial production of modern plastic wet mounts.
If we may be of assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to write.
Sincerely yours,
Frank M. Townsend
Colonel, USAF (MC)
Deputy Director
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
18 June 1959
MM
Captain Mauro Gangai, MC
1st Hospitalization Unit
45 Field Hospital
APO 19, New York, N.Y.
Dear Captain Gangai:
Reference is made to your letter of 8 June 1959 relative to obtaining mounted gross specimens and microscopic slides.
The Institute prepares both macropathological and micropathological material for itself and for use by requesting organizations of the Armed Forces. While the Institute does not prepare material for sale, it does have a training program in the technique of preparation and mounting of gross material in which accepted students may learn modern gross mounting methods.
Glass is no longer employed as a mounting medium for gross specimens. the old glass jars have been replaced with plastic containers which are cheaper and more useful.
While commercial sources are somewhat uncertain, Mr. Robert E. Mincey, Bird L. Color Hospital, Welfare Island, New York, is reportedly engaged in a semi-commercial production of modern plastic wet mounts.
If we may be of assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to write.
Sincerely yours,
Frank M. Townsend
Colonel, USAF (MC)
Deputy Director
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
Friday, June 17, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 17
AEM/jlw
17 June 1960
Dr. Francis R. Dieuaide
Medical Director
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
1 Madison Avenue
New York, New York
Dear Dr. Dieuaide:
The Medical Museum of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology is
dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of military
medical material. It is one of the four major departments of the Armed
Forces Institute of Pathology, a national institution jointly sponsored
by the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.
While the parent organization is located on the grounds of the Walter
Reed Army Medical Center, the Museum is located in the downtown area of
Washington where it can better carry out its mission of service and
interest to the public. It is here that the military services portray
the developments in the field of military medicine and the resultant
benefits to all mankind. A dynamic program of current and timely Armed
Forces medical subjects, together with constantly changing exhibits of
the history and pathology of disease and certain other selected topics
of military medical history, have made this a living museum.
It has been learned through Dr. Hans Smetana, Chief, Pediatric Section,
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, that you have a very interesting
collection of oriental medical curiosities which you ultimately plan to
give to some museum or other institute of learning.
We would be most happy to have you consider the Medical Museum as a
suitable and logical repository for your collection of objects of
medical interest. Here they would be carefully preserved for the
heritage of the future, and exhibited for the enjoyment and edification
of the more than 360,000 persons who visit the Museum annually. In
addition, your name as donor would always be associated with them.
It would be a pleasure to meet with you the next time you are in
Washington and to show you the many and varied exhibits on display in
the Museum.
Sincerely yours,
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
Cc Dr. Smetana
CBS News features Museum smallpox photograph
CBS News featured a Museum smallpox photograph in a slideshow of similar
pictures. See http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-204_162-10007793-9.html for
"23 scary photographs."
pictures. See http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-204_162-10007793-9.html for
"23 scary photographs."
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 16
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02335
June 16, 1897
Dr. I.S. Stone,
1449 Rhode Island Avenue,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Doctor:
I beg to report that the microscopic examination of sections of supposed additional ovaries, left for examination on may 26, 1897, shows in both a fibrous structure rich in spindle-shaped cells, such as one generally sees in sections of the ovary. There are no Graafian follicles to be found however. The surface of one of these bodies is partially covered with a low cuboidal epithelium which can be traced into the interior of the growth, where it becomes a higher cuboidal and even ciliated columnar epithelium, lining a number of clefts which branch in various directions. I think that these various clefts lined with epithelium merely mark the outlines of papillary projections which have been cut out transversely. One of those out in a longitudinal direction is seen to be covered with high columnar ciliated epithelium. This epithelium must be considered as modified germinal epithelium, thus demonstrating the ovarian origin of these bodies. I believe, therefore, that from the microscopic appearance, these bodies should be considered as superficial papillomata of the ovary. J. Whitwedge Williams has given a full description of these papillomata in Vol. III, Johns Hopkins Hospital Reports.
Sincerely yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.
June 16, 1897
Dr. I.S. Stone,
1449 Rhode Island Avenue,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Doctor:
I beg to report that the microscopic examination of sections of supposed additional ovaries, left for examination on may 26, 1897, shows in both a fibrous structure rich in spindle-shaped cells, such as one generally sees in sections of the ovary. There are no Graafian follicles to be found however. The surface of one of these bodies is partially covered with a low cuboidal epithelium which can be traced into the interior of the growth, where it becomes a higher cuboidal and even ciliated columnar epithelium, lining a number of clefts which branch in various directions. I think that these various clefts lined with epithelium merely mark the outlines of papillary projections which have been cut out transversely. One of those out in a longitudinal direction is seen to be covered with high columnar ciliated epithelium. This epithelium must be considered as modified germinal epithelium, thus demonstrating the ovarian origin of these bodies. I believe, therefore, that from the microscopic appearance, these bodies should be considered as superficial papillomata of the ovary. J. Whitwedge Williams has given a full description of these papillomata in Vol. III, Johns Hopkins Hospital Reports.
Sincerely yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 15
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06767
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 15, 1903.
Dr. R. S. Lamb
1017 14th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Doctor;
I am directed by the Surgeon General to express his thanks for the two specimens of eyes removed, one for panophthalmitia, and the other for atrophy following injury, received from you on this day. they will be added to the collection with properly inscribed cards.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col., Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Specimens Nos. 12594 + 12632 Path. Sect.
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 15, 1903.
Dr. R. S. Lamb
1017 14th St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Doctor;
I am directed by the Surgeon General to express his thanks for the two specimens of eyes removed, one for panophthalmitia, and the other for atrophy following injury, received from you on this day. they will be added to the collection with properly inscribed cards.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col., Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Specimens Nos. 12594 + 12632 Path. Sect.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Inventor Mike Doyle plans a technical marvel of a health museum
Inventor Mike Doyle plans a technical marvel of a health museum
June 13, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 14
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02331
Subject: A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, D.C.. June 14, 1897
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army.
Sir:
Referring to your letter of June 12, 1897 I respectfully request that I may be permitted to retain in the library of the Army Medical School the two copies of "A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood," by Cabot. During class work these two volumes will be daily consulted by the Student Officers and in my opinion, therefore, two copies are none too many for use of the class.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army
Secretary, Army Medical School.
Subject: A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, D.C.. June 14, 1897
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army.
Sir:
Referring to your letter of June 12, 1897 I respectfully request that I may be permitted to retain in the library of the Army Medical School the two copies of "A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood," by Cabot. During class work these two volumes will be daily consulted by the Student Officers and in my opinion, therefore, two copies are none too many for use of the class.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army
Secretary, Army Medical School.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 13
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 07571
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 13, 1904.
1st Lieut. John R. Devereux,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Fort Meade, S.D.
Sir:
Replying to your letter of May 30th forwarding specimens of skin scrapings, I have the honor to report the result of the examination as negative. No fungi could be detected in the material after treatment with caustic potash solution nor after staining with a solution of methylene blue.
This report would have been made earlier but for the fact that Your letter was mislaid.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum.
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 13, 1904.
1st Lieut. John R. Devereux,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Fort Meade, S.D.
Sir:
Replying to your letter of May 30th forwarding specimens of skin scrapings, I have the honor to report the result of the examination as negative. No fungi could be detected in the material after treatment with caustic potash solution nor after staining with a solution of methylene blue.
This report would have been made earlier but for the fact that Your letter was mislaid.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 12
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02331
In reply refer to No. 1532
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office
Washington, June 12, 1897.
Major Walter Reed,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Secretary , Army Medical School,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
The records of this office show that you have received two (2) copies of "A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood," by Richard C. Cabot, M.D. If you have received two (2) copies of this book, the Surgeon General directs that one (1) copy be sent to this office and the same dropped from your next Return of Medical Property, with suitable remark.
Very respectfully,
C.H. Alden
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In reply refer to No. 1532
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office
Washington, June 12, 1897.
Major Walter Reed,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Secretary , Army Medical School,
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
The records of this office show that you have received two (2) copies of "A Guide to the Clinical Examination of the Blood," by Richard C. Cabot, M.D. If you have received two (2) copies of this book, the Surgeon General directs that one (1) copy be sent to this office and the same dropped from your next Return of Medical Property, with suitable remark.
Very respectfully,
C.H. Alden
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 11
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06762
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 11, 1903.
Capt. W. F. Clark, 2d Cavy.
Quartermaster,
Fort Myer, Va.
Sir:
Replying to your letter of the 8th inst. in regard to the location of the intake pipe for the water supply at your post I would suggest that you consult Lieut. Col. Alexander M. Miller of the Engineer Corps, whose office is at 2728 Penna. Ave., Washington, D.C. Col Miller has been engaged for some years in the practical study of the water supply of the city of Washington, he is no doubt familiar with the points at which sewage and factory refuse are poured into the Potomac, and could give an expert opinion as to the points from which water could be taken with the least danger of sewage contamination during unusual conditions of flood in the river.
This seems to me to be a matter of vital importance and one that should be decided only by an expert who is familiar with the local conditions.
I have only a hearsay knowledge of your water supply but I shall be very glad to render any assistance in my power, at any time you may see fit to call upon me.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 11, 1903.
Capt. W. F. Clark, 2d Cavy.
Quartermaster,
Fort Myer, Va.
Sir:
Replying to your letter of the 8th inst. in regard to the location of the intake pipe for the water supply at your post I would suggest that you consult Lieut. Col. Alexander M. Miller of the Engineer Corps, whose office is at 2728 Penna. Ave., Washington, D.C. Col Miller has been engaged for some years in the practical study of the water supply of the city of Washington, he is no doubt familiar with the points at which sewage and factory refuse are poured into the Potomac, and could give an expert opinion as to the points from which water could be taken with the least danger of sewage contamination during unusual conditions of flood in the river.
This seems to me to be a matter of vital importance and one that should be decided only by an expert who is familiar with the local conditions.
I have only a hearsay knowledge of your water supply but I shall be very glad to render any assistance in my power, at any time you may see fit to call upon me.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Former Museum curator Elgin Cowart's funeral is June 13th
Services for Elgin Cowart's burial are at Arlington National Cemetery at the Post Chapel on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:00am.
If you are attending a chapel service prior to a funeral, you will no longer be able to drive to the Old Post Chapel or Memorial Chapel on Joint-Base Myer-Henderson Hall (formerly Fort Myer) from Arlington National Cemetery without DoD decals on your vehicle and the appropriate identification (government-issued photo ID, valid driver license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance). All vehicles without DoD decals must enter through JBM-HH Hatfield, Wright or Henderson Hall gates. For more information and directions to JBM-HH gates, please read the new access control policy.
Letter of the Day: June 10
Numbered Correspondence: Curatorial Records 06760
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 10, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army
Sir:
In accordance with letter dated Surgeon General's Office June 5, 1903 addressed to the Officer in Charge of the Medical Supply Depot, Washington, D.C. and accompanied by standard samples of bandages, etc., I have the honor to submit the following report of the result of an examination of the samples of sterility:
1. Sublimated gauze.
Portions placed in six bouillon tubes: all sterile.
2. Absorbent cotton.
Portions in sic bouillon tubes: 4 sterile; 2 contaminated.
3. Plain gauze.
Portions in six bouillon tubes: all contaminated.
4. Gauze bandages.
Portions from three bandages in thirteen bouillon tubes: 9 sterile; 4 contaminated.
Very respectfully,
Jams Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 10, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army
Sir:
In accordance with letter dated Surgeon General's Office June 5, 1903 addressed to the Officer in Charge of the Medical Supply Depot, Washington, D.C. and accompanied by standard samples of bandages, etc., I have the honor to submit the following report of the result of an examination of the samples of sterility:
1. Sublimated gauze.
Portions placed in six bouillon tubes: all sterile.
2. Absorbent cotton.
Portions in sic bouillon tubes: 4 sterile; 2 contaminated.
3. Plain gauze.
Portions in six bouillon tubes: all contaminated.
4. Gauze bandages.
Portions from three bandages in thirteen bouillon tubes: 9 sterile; 4 contaminated.
Very respectfully,
Jams Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Articial kidney machine in Museum duplicated by students
Engineering students look to the past to learn about the future |
Preston Moretz June 8, 2011 http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/2010_2011/06/stories/Temple_students_kidney_dialysis_machine.htm |
Letter of the Day: June 9
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06759
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 9, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army.
(Through the President of the Faculty, Army Medical School).
Sir:
In order to obtain the necessary material for class purposes at the Army Medical School I have the honor to ask the the Surgeons at Fort Myer, Va., Washington Barracks, D.C., and the U.S. Soldiers' Home, Washington, D.C., be requested to notify me by telephone whenever a case of malaria presents in which the parasites are found in teh blood. Upon receipt of such notification a man will be sent at once to prepare cover-glass smears for preparation.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 9, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army.
(Through the President of the Faculty, Army Medical School).
Sir:
In order to obtain the necessary material for class purposes at the Army Medical School I have the honor to ask the the Surgeons at Fort Myer, Va., Washington Barracks, D.C., and the U.S. Soldiers' Home, Washington, D.C., be requested to notify me by telephone whenever a case of malaria presents in which the parasites are found in teh blood. Upon receipt of such notification a man will be sent at once to prepare cover-glass smears for preparation.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
New issue of "Grog View" about Navy history of medicine
There's a new issue of the Navy's medical historians publication online
now -
now -
Got Grog? http://issuu.com/thegrogration/docs/the_grog_spring_2011
It includes an article about the Naval Hospital in Yokohama, Japan, that
was damaged in an earthquake in 1923 and a good article on Presidential
health and Navy physicians.
Letter of the Day: June 8
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 04644
Hoagland Laboratory,
Department of Bacteriology
E.H. Wilson, M.D., Director.
R.B. Fitz-Randolph, A.C., Associate Director
Dear doctor Reed:
We have bred our guinea pigs in our animal room so long that i cannot quote prices to you, but if you will communicate with Jas. T. Dougherty, #409 West 59th. Street, N.Y., he will give you all the information you desire and furnish you with the animals.
I have telephoned him about the matter, and he will expect to hear from you. I wish I could go to Cuba with you, but it is too hot.
Regards to Dr. Carroll.
Sincerely yours,
E.H. Wilson
Hoagland Laboratory,
Department of Bacteriology
E.H. Wilson, M.D., Director.
R.B. Fitz-Randolph, A.C., Associate Director
Dear doctor Reed:
We have bred our guinea pigs in our animal room so long that i cannot quote prices to you, but if you will communicate with Jas. T. Dougherty, #409 West 59th. Street, N.Y., he will give you all the information you desire and furnish you with the animals.
I have telephoned him about the matter, and he will expect to hear from you. I wish I could go to Cuba with you, but it is too hot.
Regards to Dr. Carroll.
Sincerely yours,
E.H. Wilson
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 7
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 07565
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 7, 1904.
Captain Carl. R. Darnall,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
In charge of Field Medical Supply Depot.
Sir:
I have the honor to invite your attention to the unsatisfactory work of the Forbes Sterilizing apparatus which was operated to-day in order to exhibit its workings of Dr. Childs of England.
Two burners were used, one of them entirely new, and both appeared to be defective; with constant pumping one hour elapsed before any water was delivered. After running forty minutes the quantity of water delivered was only about two and one half gallons.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st. Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army medical Museum
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 7, 1904.
Captain Carl. R. Darnall,
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
In charge of Field Medical Supply Depot.
Sir:
I have the honor to invite your attention to the unsatisfactory work of the Forbes Sterilizing apparatus which was operated to-day in order to exhibit its workings of Dr. Childs of England.
Two burners were used, one of them entirely new, and both appeared to be defective; with constant pumping one hour elapsed before any water was delivered. After running forty minutes the quantity of water delivered was only about two and one half gallons.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st. Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army medical Museum
Monday, June 6, 2011
New World War I finding aid online
Museum intern Sara Gonzales wrote a finding aid for OHA 97 Angier and Hitchcock Collection about World War Reconstruction Aides which is at the NMHM website here: http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/collections/archives/asearch/afinding_aids/hitchcock/angier_hitchcock.html
Many other finding aids are online here: http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/collections/archives/asearch/afinding_aids/afinding_aids.html
Letter of the Day: June 6
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 08389
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army medical Museum and Library,
Washington.
June 6, 1905.
Dr. Arthur A. Snyder
1207 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC
Dear Dr. Snyder:
I write to ask if you will not kindly favor me with a copy of your report of the case of Hodgkin's disease that died at Garfield Hospital about ten years ago. I am sure I have heard you say that you published it but I cannot find any reference to a case published under your name in our catalogue. If you cannot give me the paper will you not give me the reference so that I can get it in the original.
I am also very anxious to have a photograph of the case for reproduction because I find it is one of very great interest in view of our present knowledge upon this subject.
Trusting you will not find it inconvenient to grant my request, believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
James Carroll
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army medical Museum and Library,
Washington.
June 6, 1905.
Dr. Arthur A. Snyder
1207 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC
Dear Dr. Snyder:
I write to ask if you will not kindly favor me with a copy of your report of the case of Hodgkin's disease that died at Garfield Hospital about ten years ago. I am sure I have heard you say that you published it but I cannot find any reference to a case published under your name in our catalogue. If you cannot give me the paper will you not give me the reference so that I can get it in the original.
I am also very anxious to have a photograph of the case for reproduction because I find it is one of very great interest in view of our present knowledge upon this subject.
Trusting you will not find it inconvenient to grant my request, believe me,
Yours very sincerely,
James Carroll
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 5
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 08386
War Department
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington
June 5, 1905.
Dr. W. M. L. Coplin,
Jefferson medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir:
I am directed by the Surgeon General to express his thanks for the specimen of pancreas, showing hemorrhagic and fat necrosis, received by you on the 1st inst. It will be added to the collection with a properly inscribed card.
Will you have the further kindness to furnish the Museum with its history?
Very respectfully,
C. L. Heizmann
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A
In charge of Museum and Library Division
War Department
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington
June 5, 1905.
Dr. W. M. L. Coplin,
Jefferson medical College,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear Sir:
I am directed by the Surgeon General to express his thanks for the specimen of pancreas, showing hemorrhagic and fat necrosis, received by you on the 1st inst. It will be added to the collection with a properly inscribed card.
Will you have the further kindness to furnish the Museum with its history?
Very respectfully,
C. L. Heizmann
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A
In charge of Museum and Library Division
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 4
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 07560
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 4, 1904.
Major W. F. Lippett
Surgeon, U.S. Army, Military Hospital
San Juan, P.R.
Sir:
Referring to the tumor from the inguinal region forwarded with your letter of May 24th, I have the honor to report that a microscopical examination shows the conditioned present to be one of chronic suppurative inflammation. The glands consist almost entirely of typical granulation tissue, very rich in fibroblasts and showing numerous newly formed bloodvessels [sic]. The inflammatory element is shown by the presence of numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes and several small healing foci of suppuration. In one place the leukocytes can be seen to be emigrating freely through the wall of a blood vessel. There is no evidence of tuberculosis.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army medical Museum
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets
Washington, June 4, 1904.
Major W. F. Lippett
Surgeon, U.S. Army, Military Hospital
San Juan, P.R.
Sir:
Referring to the tumor from the inguinal region forwarded with your letter of May 24th, I have the honor to report that a microscopical examination shows the conditioned present to be one of chronic suppurative inflammation. The glands consist almost entirely of typical granulation tissue, very rich in fibroblasts and showing numerous newly formed bloodvessels [sic]. The inflammatory element is shown by the presence of numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes and several small healing foci of suppuration. In one place the leukocytes can be seen to be emigrating freely through the wall of a blood vessel. There is no evidence of tuberculosis.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army medical Museum
Friday, June 3, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 3
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03185
Rejection of Candidate
June 3, 1898
To the Surgeon General
U.S. Army
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that Dr. George E. Plummer, of Key West, Fla., was rejected by the Board yesterday for physical disqualifications. This applicant was examined by Asst. Surgeon, P. Clendenin, May 30, and accepted; the only note upon physical record being "slender but wiry". In addition to deficient physique which the Board noted upon examining the record, and as to which it made a reservation at the time, there was a marked vericosity of the veins of both legs, extending above the knees, a most unpromising condition as to future usefulness. had they been recorded originally, that candidate would have been spared the expense of the journey and attendance.
The Board suggests that Medical Examiners be cautioned to note all defects, so that the Board may have all possible data for careful judgment. It is plain from this example that the preliminary physical examination can be advisory only, and not binding upon the board.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army
President of the Board
Rejection of Candidate
June 3, 1898
To the Surgeon General
U.S. Army
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that Dr. George E. Plummer, of Key West, Fla., was rejected by the Board yesterday for physical disqualifications. This applicant was examined by Asst. Surgeon, P. Clendenin, May 30, and accepted; the only note upon physical record being "slender but wiry". In addition to deficient physique which the Board noted upon examining the record, and as to which it made a reservation at the time, there was a marked vericosity of the veins of both legs, extending above the knees, a most unpromising condition as to future usefulness. had they been recorded originally, that candidate would have been spared the expense of the journey and attendance.
The Board suggests that Medical Examiners be cautioned to note all defects, so that the Board may have all possible data for careful judgment. It is plain from this example that the preliminary physical examination can be advisory only, and not binding upon the board.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army
President of the Board
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Letter of the Day: June 2
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02307
June 2, 1897
Capt. D.F. Boughton
Troop B, 3rd Cavalry
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Dear Sir:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt through Major J. B. Girard, Surgeon, U.S. Army, of a Krag-Joergensen rifle bullet, which was fired through the tibia of private H. McShane, of your troop, and which you had the kindness to present to this Museum. The specimen is of interest, especially in connection with the perforated section of bone forwarded by Major Girard, and the Surgeon General desires me to thank you for this contribution to the Museum Collection.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army
Curator.
June 2, 1897
Capt. D.F. Boughton
Troop B, 3rd Cavalry
Jefferson Barracks, Mo.
Dear Sir:
I beg to acknowledge the receipt through Major J. B. Girard, Surgeon, U.S. Army, of a Krag-Joergensen rifle bullet, which was fired through the tibia of private H. McShane, of your troop, and which you had the kindness to present to this Museum. The specimen is of interest, especially in connection with the perforated section of bone forwarded by Major Girard, and the Surgeon General desires me to thank you for this contribution to the Museum Collection.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army
Curator.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
25 best blogs on biomedicine
I heard from William Hopper today suggesting that Bottled Monsters readers might enjoy his blog, HealthTechTopia. Check out his latest entry that has a list of the top 25 blogs about biomedicine: http://mastersinhealthinformatics.com/2011/25-best-blogs-on-biomedicine/
Letter of the Day: June 1
[this is a 3 ½” x 4 ½” handwritten order, and is a result of the Spanish-American War]
W.D. [War Department]
S.G.O [Surgeon General’s Office]
June 1. 1898
Orders:
Dr. William M. Gray, Microscopist Surgeon General’s Office will proceed without delay to New York City and report in person to Major George H. Torney, Surgeon USA for duty in the US Hospital ship “Relief.”
(signed) Geo M. Sternberg
Surg. Genl USA
To Dr. Wm Gray
Microscopist
Through Col. Dallas Bache
Asst. Surg. Genl USA
In charge of M+L Div.
S.G.O.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 31
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 00722
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 31, 1895.
My Dear Doctor:-
Your letter of May 22d related to two supposed cases of leprosy has been received. I am so very much occupied with my official duties that I have no time for making personal investigations in a matter of this kind. I will, however, refer your communication to Major Walter Reed, Surgeon, U.S. Army, Curator of the Army Medical Museum, who will I have no doubt be glad to examine the specimens and who is entirely competent to give you an opinion on the matter.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) Geo. M. Sternberg.
Dr. C. O. Probst,
Sec. State Board of Health,
Columbus, Ohio.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 31, 1895.
My Dear Doctor:-
Your letter of May 22d related to two supposed cases of leprosy has been received. I am so very much occupied with my official duties that I have no time for making personal investigations in a matter of this kind. I will, however, refer your communication to Major Walter Reed, Surgeon, U.S. Army, Curator of the Army Medical Museum, who will I have no doubt be glad to examine the specimens and who is entirely competent to give you an opinion on the matter.
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) Geo. M. Sternberg.
Dr. C. O. Probst,
Sec. State Board of Health,
Columbus, Ohio.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 29
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02291
May 29, 1897
Mr. F. A. Brockhaus,
Leipzig, Germany.
Dear Sir:
Please purchase for this Museum the prothetic [sic] apparatus invented and described by Dr. W. Liermann, of Frankfurt a.M., in the Deutsche Militaraztliche Zeitschrift, Jahrgang XXVI, 1897, Heft I, p. 13 etc. The apparatus is made by L. Droll, Frankfurt a.M., Friedenstruasse, 6.
Have it carefully packed and forwarded to this Museum in the usual manner and send the bill to me.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.Army
In charge of Museum and Library Division
May 29, 1897
Mr. F. A. Brockhaus,
Leipzig, Germany.
Dear Sir:
Please purchase for this Museum the prothetic [sic] apparatus invented and described by Dr. W. Liermann, of Frankfurt a.M., in the Deutsche Militaraztliche Zeitschrift, Jahrgang XXVI, 1897, Heft I, p. 13 etc. The apparatus is made by L. Droll, Frankfurt a.M., Friedenstruasse, 6.
Have it carefully packed and forwarded to this Museum in the usual manner and send the bill to me.
Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S.Army
In charge of Museum and Library Division
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 28
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 00691
May 28, 1895
Major C.E. Munn,
Surgeon, U. S. Army,
Post Surgeon, Benicia Barracks,
California.
Dear Doctor:
I have sent you a second set of cultures of pathogenic organisms. I am sorry that you have had so much trouble in obtaining them, which was, as you well know, the fault of no one here.
Owing to the continual demand which has been made upon the Museum for slides of malarial parasite, I am unable at present to send you a slide; but I have placed your name first on the list, and just as soon as the fever begins at Washington Barracks, will send you a carefully stained slide.
Very truly yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator
May 28, 1895
Major C.E. Munn,
Surgeon, U. S. Army,
Post Surgeon, Benicia Barracks,
California.
Dear Doctor:
I have sent you a second set of cultures of pathogenic organisms. I am sorry that you have had so much trouble in obtaining them, which was, as you well know, the fault of no one here.
Owing to the continual demand which has been made upon the Museum for slides of malarial parasite, I am unable at present to send you a slide; but I have placed your name first on the list, and just as soon as the fever begins at Washington Barracks, will send you a carefully stained slide.
Very truly yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator
Friday, May 27, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 27
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06723
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets, NW
Washington, May 27, 1903.
1st Lieut. E.L. Ruffner
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Base Hospital, Iloilo,
Panay, P.I.
(Through the Surgeon General, U.S. Army)
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of thirty (30) dried cover-slip films of Aestivo-autumnal malarial blood for the use of the Army Medical School.
I would be very glad to have more of such specimens as about 50 will probably be needed to go around the class.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets, NW
Washington, May 27, 1903.
1st Lieut. E.L. Ruffner
Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Base Hospital, Iloilo,
Panay, P.I.
(Through the Surgeon General, U.S. Army)
Sir:
I have the honor to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of thirty (30) dried cover-slip films of Aestivo-autumnal malarial blood for the use of the Army Medical School.
I would be very glad to have more of such specimens as about 50 will probably be needed to go around the class.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Canadian War Museum exhibit borrowed from Medical Museum
War and Medicine exhibit shows healing in conflict
CBC News May 26, 2011
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/05/26/ott-war-museum-medicine633.html
-the exhibit is from Britain, but the Canadians jazzed it up with material from North America.
CBC News May 26, 2011
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/05/26/ott-war-museum-medicine633.html
-the exhibit is from Britain, but the Canadians jazzed it up with material from North America.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 26
May 26, 1917.
From: W.O. Owen, Colonel Medical Corps, U.S. Army,
Curator Army Medical Museum.
To: Professeur Jacob,
Directeur des Archives et Documents de Guerre,
Paris, France.
Subject: Specimens for the Army Medical Museum.
Your letter of the 9th of May is at hand. I am indeed obliged to you for
your willingness to assist me in making the collections here what they
ought to be.
I am particularly anxious to have specimens of the modern armor, such as
I am informed are in use by all of the armies engaged in this warfare,
and if you can place me in communication with anyone who has the
material for sale, or if you can inform me if there is any way by which
I may, properly, obtain this material form the military authorities of
France, by purchase or otherwise, I will be much obliged to you for the
courtesy.
It will give me pleasure to make a collection of any material that you
may want from this Country, or to let you have such material as we may
have in duplicate that may be desired by your Museum, if it may suit
your convenience to let me know your needs in these directions.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
National Museum of Health and Medicine moving to Forest Glen
Architectural rendering of the new museum facility.
National Museum of Health and Medicine moving to Forest Glen
'National Treasure' relocating to new facility, new command, same wonderful old stuff
Letter of the Day: May 25
AEM/caw
25 May 1959
Mr. William Fowler
Instruction Aids Division
Quartermaster School
Fort Lee, Virginia
Dear Mr. Fowler:
The Medical Museum of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of military medical material. It is one of the four major departments of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, a national institution jointly sponsored by the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
While the parent organization is located on the grounds of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Museum is located in the downtown area of Washington where it can better carry out its mission of service and interest to the public. It is here that the military services portray the developments in the field of military medicine and the resultant benefits to all mankind. A dynamic program of current and timely Armed Forces Medical subjects, together with constantly changing exhibits of the history and pathology of diseases and certain other selected topics of military medical history, have made this a living museum. The positive support of the Museum by the Surgeons General of the three Armed Services assures its continued growth and improvement.
In view of this and to continue its collection of historical material the Medical Museum is seeking to obtain and preserve actual uniforms worn by those who have distinguished themselves in Medical Service and will live long in its history. It is also hoped to have type uniforms of the Medical Services complete in every detail to show the changes through the years. Naturally the passing of time makes it increasingly difficult to find either.
Your display of uniforms at the Armed Forces Day Exhibit at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington, has caused me to write to you as to what the possibility would be of getting type uniforms of bygone years, new or discarded, or the specifications for their making.
Sincerely yours,
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Confederate photographs uploaded to Flickr
We’ve had a request for pictures of Confederate soldiers and have posted what should be every one to Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=99129398@N00&q=confederate&m=text
Letter of the Day: May 24
TWE*RK
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library.
Washington
May 24, 1918.
Lieutenant Robert Ross,
C/o Col. Bispham, Officers Training Camp,
Fort Riley, Kansas.
My dear Bob:
I am in receipt of your letter of the 21st and am indeed sorry to learn that you missed the big crowd which you intended to take.
You certainly have gotten me in a fine hole with the “Battle of Cambrai”. No sooner had you left town than they were on the phone about this film and have been on the phone ever fifteen minutes since as it had been booked for the Metropolitan Opera House, Philadelphia to play before an audience of 7,000 people more or less, and we are all going to get into trouble before the show is given. Up until the present time the show has not been given.
Hurry up and get through with the picture you are on and get back here. Fifteen different jobs here need your attention. Pay rolls have already been forwarded for the men to sign.
Sincerely,
Tom Evans
Monday, May 23, 2011
Archives technician job in Museum open
Job Title: ARCHIVES TECHNICIAN
Department: Department Of The Army
Agency: Army Medical Command
Job Announcement Number: NEBB11982400D
SALARY RANGE: | $42,209.00 - $54,875.00 /year |
OPEN PERIOD: | Friday, May 20, 2011 to Friday, May 27, 2011 |
SERIES & GRADE: | GS-1412-07/07 |
POSITION INFORMATION: | - This is a Permanent position. -- Full Time |
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: | FPL 07 |
DUTY LOCATIONS: | 1 vacancy - DC - Washington |
WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED: | US Citizens |
JOB SUMMARY:
Challenge Yourself - Be an Army Civilian - Go Army! MORE THAN ONE VACANCY MAY BE FILLED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT · Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) eligibles. · All U. S. citizens. |
Letter of the Day: May 23
AEM/caw
23 May 1960
Mrs. Helen Chatfield
Histopathology Laboratory
Mary Hitchcock Hospital
Hanover, N.H.
Dear Mrs. Chatfield:
Reference is made to recent letter inquiring if you might visit the Laboratory to repair several mounted specimens during your visit to Washington on 6 and 7 June 1960.
You are welcome to continue your training in macropathology and there should be no problem in repairing your mountings.
If we may be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to write.
Sincerely yours,
Albert E Minns Jr
Colonel MSC
Curator, Medical Museum
Capt. Elgin C. Cowart, Jr., USN, M.D. former Museum Curator & AFIP Director
Elgin Courtland Cowart, Jr., M.D., USN Ret.
Dr. Elgin C. Cowart, 87, of Potomac, Maryland died November 1, 2010, after a long bout with Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Cowart is survived by his wife, Madeleine Mary Hoge Cowart; and their children: Phillip Joseph Hoge (Susan) of Crofton, MD; Mary Kim Hoge Kammann of San Diego, CA; James Christopher Hoge, Michael Gregg Hoge of Washington, DC; and John Patrick Hoge, of Annapolis, MD. Additional survivors also include his son & daughter of his first marriage, Steve Cowart (Teresa) of Escondido, CA; daughter, Susan Cowart Ellis of El Paso, Texas; and many grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Elgin Sr. and Annie Susie McAllister Cowart; his beloved grandmother, Susie McAllister; and his brothers, Mac and Jack Cowart.
Originally a born native of Dothan, AL, Dr. Cowart's childhood was mostly spent in beloved Fort Gaines, GA. In those early years, he and his brothers happily visited his grandmother, "Miss Susie", and other relatives there. In Fort Gaines, he was known by his nickname, "Bubba". At the age of 13, Elgin's family set off for New Orleans, LA where he attended and graduated from Alcee Fortier High School in 1940. Having such a close-knit family, Elgin decided to stay close to home as World War II was starting. With the impending war, and having already signed on with the United States Navy, he studied at the Tulane School of Tropical Medicine, and earned his Doctorate of Medical Sciences degree in 1946. Upon finishing at Tulane, Elgin entered active duty being indoctrinated at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was there he received his orders to serve in WWII in the South Pacific theatre on the islands of Guam and Yap, where he was featured in the National Geographic Magazine providing medical aid. Upon his return from war, Dr. Cowart practiced family medicine for five fulfilling years in Brook Haven, MS.
In 1955, Elgin returned to active duty in the US Navy, for his residency training and serving in pathology at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland (1955-1960). Then upon receiving promotion, he was assigned to be a Commander supporting the Naval Medical Research Unit in Cairo, Egypt (1960-1964). In 1964, he was appointed curator at the United States Army Medical Museum back in Washington, DC on the National Mall until it closed and was relocated to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus (1964-1969). He was a very quiet and proud man - especially when it came to his work. Tying the up the ribbon to the Medical Museum in the closing ceremony with President Lyndon Johnson, where the Hirshhorn Museum and Gardens now stands, for him that was a very sad day and he looked forward to one day having a medical museum on the National Mall again.
Dr. Cowart served in the Vietnam War and in 1971 was presented the National Legion of Merit on behalf of the United States President in recognition of his meritorious conduct as commanding officer of the Naval Hospital aboard the USS Sanctuary out of Port Hueneme, California. Post-Vietnam War, he returned to AFIP as the Deputy Director (1975) and then Director (1976-1980) where he retired a first time after receiving the select distinction of being honored as the "Clinical Scientist of the Year (Sunderman Award)" for making outstanding contributions to clinical science in research, service, and teaching. Missing his passionate career, he came back to work to become the Director of American Registry of Pathology (1981-1990).
Elgin took great interest in his large extended family and looked forward to hunting trips back in his old childhood stomping grounds with his brothers and sons. He took fishing quite seriously until he took more interest in his Chesapeake Retriever dogs with which he spent many long hours training to receive awards and certificates of distinction. He had always hoped to travel to Alaska to cruise the waterways to see nature in its purest form and witness the Aurora Borealis. He no doubt will be remembered with great affection by those who truly knew and loved him.
A memorial mass and full honors burial will be held on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at Ft. Myer Chapel, Arlington National Cemetery. Those attending are asked to arrive at the administration building at 10:30 A.M.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 22
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06713
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 22, 1903.
Major W.C. Borden
Surgeon U.S. Army
Washington Barracks, D.C.
Sir:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the results of an examination of a portion of a tumor of the rectum handed me several days ago by 1st Lieut. J.C. Gregory, Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army.
The essential lesion is a cancer with extensive infiltration of the muscularis and indaration [sic]. There is also a well marked purulent infiltration of the tissue with localized areas of necrosis. Some of these areas present the appearance of tubercular caseation but the structure of a tubercle is nowhere apparent. Sections are being stained for tubercle bacilli and if they are found the fact will be reported. The primary lesion is carcinoma.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 22, 1903.
Major W.C. Borden
Surgeon U.S. Army
Washington Barracks, D.C.
Sir:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the results of an examination of a portion of a tumor of the rectum handed me several days ago by 1st Lieut. J.C. Gregory, Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army.
The essential lesion is a cancer with extensive infiltration of the muscularis and indaration [sic]. There is also a well marked purulent infiltration of the tissue with localized areas of necrosis. Some of these areas present the appearance of tubercular caseation but the structure of a tubercle is nowhere apparent. Sections are being stained for tubercle bacilli and if they are found the fact will be reported. The primary lesion is carcinoma.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Asst. Curator.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Museum director speaks on Sickles' leg on Youtube
Amputated leg of Civil War general on display at Fort Detrick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVcUb81qgE8
by FrederickNewsPost on May 18, 2011Major General Daniel E. Sickles fought in the Civil War and lost his leg after being injured by cannon fire. The 148-year-old leg will be exhibited at Fort Detrick while the National Museum of Health and Medicine relocates to Fort Detrick's Forest Glen annex.
Video by: AJ Messer
Originally published May 18, 2011
Museum's brain collections featured in academic journal
One has to have university access to see the article unfortunately -
Brain collections at the National Museum of Health and Medicine
- Archibald J. Fobbs, Jr.1,
- John I. Johnson2
Article first published online: 20 MAY 2011
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06036.x/abstract
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume 1225, S1 Resources and Technological Advances for Studies of Neurobehavioral Evolution pages E20–E29, May 2011
Smithsonian Magazine on Medical Museum
The National Museum of Health and Medicine
Once it re-opens in its new Silver Spring, Maryland location this fall, this site will scare and educate, with displays of prosthetic eyes, amputated limbs and incomplete skeletons
- By Tony Perrottet
- Smithsonian magazine, June 2011
Letter of the Day: May 21
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06710
Internal Revenue Service,
1st District of New York,
Collector's Office,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
May 21, 1903
To the Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Referring to your letter of the 20th instant, relative to the delivery of alcohol, I would respectfully state that the U.S. Storekeeper stationed at the distillery will deliver alcohol on receipt of the duplicate permit issued by the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury to your office. I would therefore suggest that you have the said permit properly receipted, per instructions on the back of the form, and forward same to the Chief Quartermaster of the Department of the East, to be presented by his agent at the Columbus Distilling Co., 450 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, this district.
Very respectfully,
Edward B. [illegible]
Collector of Internal Revenue
Internal Revenue Service,
1st District of New York,
Collector's Office,
Brooklyn, N.Y.
May 21, 1903
To the Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Washington, D.C.
Sir:
Referring to your letter of the 20th instant, relative to the delivery of alcohol, I would respectfully state that the U.S. Storekeeper stationed at the distillery will deliver alcohol on receipt of the duplicate permit issued by the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury to your office. I would therefore suggest that you have the said permit properly receipted, per instructions on the back of the form, and forward same to the Chief Quartermaster of the Department of the East, to be presented by his agent at the Columbus Distilling Co., 450 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, this district.
Very respectfully,
Edward B. [illegible]
Collector of Internal Revenue
Friday, May 20, 2011
National Archives article on Edson Bemis
"I am still in the land of the living." The Medical Case of Civil War Veteran Edson D. Bemis
By Rebecca K. Sharp and Nancy L. Wing
National Archives Prologue Spring 2011, Vol. 44, No. 1
http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2011/spring/bemis.html-for some reason, they didn't include Bemis' photograph from the Medical Museum, but here it is.
Letter of the Day: May 20
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 06710
Transportation &c. of alcohol.
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 20, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit, for your signature, a letter to the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, requesting transportation for seven (7) barrels of alcohol from warehouse No. 4, of Columbus Distilling Co., 1st District of New York, to Army Medical Museum, and also a letter to Collector of Internal Revenue, 1st District of New York, requesting him to turn the alcohol over to the Chief Quartermaster, Department of the East.
The duplicate permit for free withdrawal of alcohol is forwarded herewith.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U. S. A.
In charge of Museum and Library Division.
(3 enclosures)
Transportation &c. of alcohol.
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 20, 1903.
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit, for your signature, a letter to the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, requesting transportation for seven (7) barrels of alcohol from warehouse No. 4, of Columbus Distilling Co., 1st District of New York, to Army Medical Museum, and also a letter to Collector of Internal Revenue, 1st District of New York, requesting him to turn the alcohol over to the Chief Quartermaster, Department of the East.
The duplicate permit for free withdrawal of alcohol is forwarded herewith.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U. S. A.
In charge of Museum and Library Division.
(3 enclosures)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 19
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03890
Dr. F. T. Meriwether,
U.S. Army Retired.
No. 14 Grove Street.
Asheville, N. C. May 19th, 1899
Maj. Walter Reed, U.S.A.
Washington, D.C.
Sir,
I send today in your care specimens of a probable Sarcoma of the Jaw, and what is of more interest a piece of a cancer of the lung. The history in brief of the latter is as follows. Male, age 35. Both father and mother died of Carcinoma of some form. Three months ago he was tapped Aspirated while in Baltimore for supposed Pleutritic effusion. Only a pint obtained. History up that time was an almost perfect one so far as health concerned. Cough developed shortly and he was sent to Asheville for supposed Tuberculosis. The chest when I saw him in consultation was enlarged upon the side affected, the left one; respiration was disturbed, had Hemoptysis and twice coughed up large masses of what seemed to be lung tissue. Temp and pulse record about that of Tuberculosis. The diagnosis was never made with certainty , though I rather incline towards malignancy. Aspiration secured some broken down cheesy looking masses which did not contain T.B. Patient suffered much at the last from Dyspnoea, and died five weeks after arriving here, the total duration being Three months. "Post" showed a lung very much broken down in spots, and the remainder of the tissue I send you. A small spot in the centre of the right lung seemed to be of the same tissue. Knowing the infrequency of Cancer of the lung I take the liberty of sending you this specimen, and request that when an accurate diagnosis is made you let me know the results. The largest piece is that of the lung and the smaller that from the jaw. The case will probably be reported at the meeting of the State Society to be held here shortly and I will see that you get a more complete history if you would like one. Let me also know the form of Sarcoma the smaller specimen.
I trust I am not imposing on your kindness too much and that I will be able to return the favor.
Very respectfully,
F[illegible] Meriwether
Dr. F. T. Meriwether,
U.S. Army Retired.
No. 14 Grove Street.
Asheville, N. C. May 19th, 1899
Maj. Walter Reed, U.S.A.
Washington, D.C.
Sir,
I send today in your care specimens of a probable Sarcoma of the Jaw, and what is of more interest a piece of a cancer of the lung. The history in brief of the latter is as follows. Male, age 35. Both father and mother died of Carcinoma of some form. Three months ago he was tapped Aspirated while in Baltimore for supposed Pleutritic effusion. Only a pint obtained. History up that time was an almost perfect one so far as health concerned. Cough developed shortly and he was sent to Asheville for supposed Tuberculosis. The chest when I saw him in consultation was enlarged upon the side affected, the left one; respiration was disturbed, had Hemoptysis and twice coughed up large masses of what seemed to be lung tissue. Temp and pulse record about that of Tuberculosis. The diagnosis was never made with certainty , though I rather incline towards malignancy. Aspiration secured some broken down cheesy looking masses which did not contain T.B. Patient suffered much at the last from Dyspnoea, and died five weeks after arriving here, the total duration being Three months. "Post" showed a lung very much broken down in spots, and the remainder of the tissue I send you. A small spot in the centre of the right lung seemed to be of the same tissue. Knowing the infrequency of Cancer of the lung I take the liberty of sending you this specimen, and request that when an accurate diagnosis is made you let me know the results. The largest piece is that of the lung and the smaller that from the jaw. The case will probably be reported at the meeting of the State Society to be held here shortly and I will see that you get a more complete history if you would like one. Let me also know the form of Sarcoma the smaller specimen.
I trust I am not imposing on your kindness too much and that I will be able to return the favor.
Very respectfully,
F[illegible] Meriwether
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Museum and Fort Detrick
Detrick celebrates new partnership with National Museum of Health and Medicine
Originally published May 18, 2011
By Megan Eckstein
News-Post Staff
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=121305
Letter of the Day: May 18
[The venom of the Heterodon platirhinos (aka Eastern Hognose Snake, Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake) is non-threatening to humans, but can cause a mild allergic reaction in some. According to the University of Florida "The Hognose Snake is renowned for its 'death feigning' behavior. When threatened, it flattens its head and neck and hisses loudly. It may strike, but only with its mouth closed. If it is further harassed, it will flip on its back and convulse for a short period and may defecate and regurgitate its food. It will then remain motionless with its belly up, mouth open, and tongue hanging out.[...] [Native Floridians] call the banded form of the Hognose Snake a "Puff Adder" and correctly believe it to be harmless. However, the black form of the Hognose Snake is called a "Spreading Adder" and is wrongly believed to be deadly. Another old myth says that the Hognose Snake can mix venom with its breath and is thus able to kill a person from a distance of twenty-five feet. In truth, its breath is harmless."]
Smithsonian Correspondence
United States National Museum
Under the Direction of
The Smithsonian Institution
Washington, May 18, 1883.
Surgeon General Charles H. Crane:
Medical Bureau,
War Department.
Dear Sir:
At the request of Dr. Henry G. Yarrow, Honorary Curator, Department of Reptiles, I have the pleasure to present herewith to the Army Medical Museum a specimen of a blowing viper, Heterodon platyrhinus [Heterodon platirhinos], having certain morbid growths upon different parts of its body. I enclose a copy of a memorandum sent to Dr. Yarrow by Dr. J.C. McConnell, relative to the nature of the pathological structure.
Your very respectfully,
Spencer Baird
Director: U.S. Nat'l Museum
Smithsonian Correspondence
United States National Museum
Under the Direction of
The Smithsonian Institution
Washington, May 18, 1883.
Surgeon General Charles H. Crane:
Medical Bureau,
War Department.
Dear Sir:
At the request of Dr. Henry G. Yarrow, Honorary Curator, Department of Reptiles, I have the pleasure to present herewith to the Army Medical Museum a specimen of a blowing viper, Heterodon platyrhinus [Heterodon platirhinos], having certain morbid growths upon different parts of its body. I enclose a copy of a memorandum sent to Dr. Yarrow by Dr. J.C. McConnell, relative to the nature of the pathological structure.
Your very respectfully,
Spencer Baird
Director: U.S. Nat'l Museum
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sickles' leg temporarily displayed on Army base
Civil War general's severed leg on display in Md.
Associated Press May 16 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9fb30fddfb344009b59122a8cb0b72d1.html
Letter of the Day: May 17
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03882
May 17, 1899.
Mr. H. G. Johnson,
Lambertsville, N.J.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt, on the 16th inst., of a malformed duckling, and to thank you for this contribution to the Museum collection. The malformation consists in in [sic] there being but one socket and either but one eye or two eyes immediately side by side. There is also a corresponding malformation of the brain.
This Museum issues no publications, and I can, therefore, send you no printed description.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
May 17, 1899.
Mr. H. G. Johnson,
Lambertsville, N.J.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt, on the 16th inst., of a malformed duckling, and to thank you for this contribution to the Museum collection. The malformation consists in in [sic] there being but one socket and either but one eye or two eyes immediately side by side. There is also a corresponding malformation of the brain.
This Museum issues no publications, and I can, therefore, send you no printed description.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 16
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03883
May 16, 1899.
Chief Medical Officer
Army of
General:
I have the honor to request information upon the subject of the employment of trained female nurses, or nursing sisters, in the Army medical service under your control.
1st. Have you a small force of female nurses, or sisters, employed in time of peace, and a registry of those available in time of war? If employed in time of peace, how many? Are such nurses obtained through the agency of charitable societies, or such an association as that of the Red Cross, and under what rules as to length of service, payment, and subordination to military authority.
2nd. Whether employed in the general and large permanent hospitals only, or employed in the infirmaries and hospitals in the camps of instruction, or even in the field hospitals of troops not actively engaged in a campaign.
Should this information be included in any publication relating to the medical service which you have the honor to direct, will you be kind enough either to send such publications to this Library, for deposit, or to inform me where it can be obtained?
With an apology for any trouble which this request may give you, and asking your courtesy in the matter, I remain, General
Your obedient servant,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of Norway, Christiania, Norway
""" Mexican Army, Mexico, Mexico.
""" Belgian Army, Brussels, Belgium.
Director General, Army Med. Dept. Army of Great Britain, London, Eng.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of France, Paris, France.
""" of the Army of the German Empire, Berlin, Germany.
""" Army of the Austrian Empire, Vienna, Austria.
""" Army of Italy, Rome, Italy.
""" Russian Army, St. Petersburg, Russia.
""" Turkish Army, Constantinople, Turkey.
""" Army of Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.
""" Army of Greece, Athens, Greece.
May 16, 1899.
Chief Medical Officer
Army of
General:
I have the honor to request information upon the subject of the employment of trained female nurses, or nursing sisters, in the Army medical service under your control.
1st. Have you a small force of female nurses, or sisters, employed in time of peace, and a registry of those available in time of war? If employed in time of peace, how many? Are such nurses obtained through the agency of charitable societies, or such an association as that of the Red Cross, and under what rules as to length of service, payment, and subordination to military authority.
2nd. Whether employed in the general and large permanent hospitals only, or employed in the infirmaries and hospitals in the camps of instruction, or even in the field hospitals of troops not actively engaged in a campaign.
Should this information be included in any publication relating to the medical service which you have the honor to direct, will you be kind enough either to send such publications to this Library, for deposit, or to inform me where it can be obtained?
With an apology for any trouble which this request may give you, and asking your courtesy in the matter, I remain, General
Your obedient servant,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of Norway, Christiania, Norway
""" Mexican Army, Mexico, Mexico.
""" Belgian Army, Brussels, Belgium.
Director General, Army Med. Dept. Army of Great Britain, London, Eng.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of France, Paris, France.
""" of the Army of the German Empire, Berlin, Germany.
""" Army of the Austrian Empire, Vienna, Austria.
""" Army of Italy, Rome, Italy.
""" Russian Army, St. Petersburg, Russia.
""" Turkish Army, Constantinople, Turkey.
""" Army of Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.
""" Army of Greece, Athens, Greece.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 15
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 15, 1902
Col. Calvin DeWitt
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Sir: I am directed by the Surgeon General to request that you will have the picture of Dr. John Morgan, now in the library, Surgeon General's Office, photographed, and send four copies to this office. Also of Drs. Shippen and Craik -- if the pictures of these officers are in your possession.
Very respectfully,
John Van R. Hoff
Lieut. Colonel, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 15, 1902
Col. Calvin DeWitt
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Sir: I am directed by the Surgeon General to request that you will have the picture of Dr. John Morgan, now in the library, Surgeon General's Office, photographed, and send four copies to this office. Also of Drs. Shippen and Craik -- if the pictures of these officers are in your possession.
Very respectfully,
John Van R. Hoff
Lieut. Colonel, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 14
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 05920
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 14, 1908
Sally Rosenberg,
Frankfurt a/m
Scillerstrasse 18
Sir:
Referring to the letter of Michael von Lukacsich (Catalogue of 1901, p. 114, No. 2272) recently received from you, I would like to informed of the following points:
What was Lukacsich's connection with Heiligengeist Hospital?
Was he a graduated physician?
When did his death occur?
I should be pleased to receive the above information which is probably obtainable from the officers of the "Heiligengeist Hospital" of your city.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 14, 1908
Sally Rosenberg,
Frankfurt a/m
Scillerstrasse 18
Sir:
Referring to the letter of Michael von Lukacsich (Catalogue of 1901, p. 114, No. 2272) recently received from you, I would like to informed of the following points:
What was Lukacsich's connection with Heiligengeist Hospital?
Was he a graduated physician?
When did his death occur?
I should be pleased to receive the above information which is probably obtainable from the officers of the "Heiligengeist Hospital" of your city.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Friday, May 13, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 13
Curatorial Records: Incoming Correspondence
Post Hospital,
Fort Davis, Texas, May 13, 1881
Surgeon General USA
Washington, D.C.-Thro[sic] Medical Director Director Dept of Texas
General:
I have the honor to state that I have turned over to the quartermaster
at the post for transmission to the Army Medical Museum - one box -
containing a foetus of about 3 monthe growth delivered of a mule at this
station. The specimen was presented to me by First Lieutenant S.L.
Woodward 10th Calvary - who informed me that he was present at the
accouchment [sic] and that there could be no doubt about the facts in
the case.
The mother is a pack mule - age unknown belonging to Troop K 10th
Calvary - and the sire [word inserted] father a young Broncho Stallion -
which was allowed to run in the corral with the pack mules and had been
repeatedly noticed in attempts on this and other mules.
I have the honor to be
General
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
Harvey E. Brown
General U.S. Army
Letter of the Day: May 12
Curatorial Records: Incoming Correspondence
12th May 1885
Dr. Jno [sic] S. Billings,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 8th inst to hand.
Photonegative arrived at our office this A.M. broken into a number of
pieces the enclosed roughed-out will show how the box was broken, the
boards being so thin that the expressmen must have put something heavy
on it + thus broken it in.
We would advise bracing thus [illustration] brace mail on lip crosswise
in about center of box.
Please let us know what you will do i.e. are we to expect another
negative-
Hoping to hear from you-
We remain-
Yours very truly
Crosscup and West Engraving Company
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