World War 1 has ended and a surgeon with the American Expeditionary Forces in France is more than ready to go home. This is from the Otken Collection.
Sat Feb 8th 1919
My dear Sister,
Your letter of Jan 11th & two bundles of papers came this week, the first mail I have had from you in two weeks.
We are still living here at Beau Desert in a ward doing nothing but hiking a little every day. However our gang plank list has gone in and we are on the sailing list, so expect to get away from here in the next few weeks.
There is not much sickness here – the flu seems to be over & just the wounded & usual run of cases come in. Thursday night a kerosene stove blew up in one of the wards over at 114 – about eleven thirty and the entire ward burned down in a very few minutes. It was full of patients all amputation cases but all were moved out safely. There was a hard wind blowing & the boys did good work in holding the fire to one ward[.] Two adjoining wards caught fire but were extinguished – only the tar paper roofing being burned.
Dr. Gardner[?] sailed this week for home, so guess he will be back in McComb before many weeks.
I wrote Charlie a couple of letters to Camp Leach that should have reached him by this time.
Several of our men have been detached from the unit this week & assigned to new jobs here in this section – I hope nothing like this will happen to me, I’m ready to go home now.
We are to take only twenty of our nurses home, the rest have to stay here on duty with these hospitals here.
Frances is being relieved from Evac. Hosp. #1 at Toul & will probably start for home in a few weeks – she will most likely go by way of Brest or St Nazaire. When she gets to New York will probably wire me at McComb & begin sending her letters there, so just hold them until you hear from me.
She has had very little work to do up there as the hospital is just about cleaned out. The com. officer there gave a party of the nurses a trip over to Verdun & and the battlefields in ambulances – they go to see all the battle front in that sector. That is about the only thing over here that I have missed that I would really like to see.
If the flu is raging over there it does look like they would get some of these Hospital units back and turn them loose lot of Drs. & nurses just killing time over here when they could be of so much use over there.
Am surprised to hear that Benton is back – doesn’t agree with what Henry Hesse told me – does it.
Hope the 1st of March will find us on the water. All take care of yourselves, expect to be with you soon. Much love to all.
Luther
Capt LB Otken
USBH 22,
APO 705 Am.E.F.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Letter of the Day #2: February 7
Even during World War I, traditional donations continued to come in and be accepted.
February 7, 1918
Dr. G.W. Remage,
Jennings, Louisiana
Dear Doctor Remage:
Permit me to thank you in behalf of the Surgeon General and of myself for the surgical case recently donated by you to this Museum which has just been received and placed on deposit here. We gratefully appreciate your thoughtful courtesy in this matter and the case has been carded as a gift from you.
Very sincerely,
W.O. Owen
Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
Curator, A.M.M.
February 7, 1918
Dr. G.W. Remage,
Jennings, Louisiana
Dear Doctor Remage:
Permit me to thank you in behalf of the Surgeon General and of myself for the surgical case recently donated by you to this Museum which has just been received and placed on deposit here. We gratefully appreciate your thoughtful courtesy in this matter and the case has been carded as a gift from you.
Very sincerely,
W.O. Owen
Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
Curator, A.M.M.
Letter of the Day #1: February 7
E.D. Hudson cooperated with the Museum for many years, providing photographs of his patients including the Confederate soldier Columbus Rush whom he provided with two artificial legs.
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington, D.C.
February 7, 1866
Dear Sir,
I am instructed by the Surgeon General to acknowledge your communication of the 25th ultimo, and to thank you for the nine (9) interesting photographs which accompanied it.
The Surgeon General has authorized me to give you the names of officers and soldiers who have recovered after undergoing the operation of excision of the head of the humerus and I have directed a list of such to be prepared.
In any future official publication with which I may be entrusted, I will carefully consider the subject of artificial limbs and the relative value of different apparatus, and I shall endeavor to do entire justice to inventors. Your claims in regard to apparatus for patients mutilated by the operations of Syme & Pirogoff, and by knee-joint amputations will not be overlooked.
I am anxious to obtain photographs of double amputations of the thigh or leg and of other cases of unusual interest, and am willing to pay for such. I hereby authorize you have photographs taken of cases of especial interest. As near as may be they should be uniform in size with those taken at the Army Medical Museum, of some of which you have copies. The negatives should be sent, securely packed, by Harnden’s Express, directed to Major General J.K. Barnes, Surgeon General U.S. Army. (For Army Medical Museum.) The bills should be made out in triplicate on the enclosed forms.
I have directed a copy of Circular No: 6, of this office, containing reports on the materials available for a medical and surgical history of the rebellion to be sent to your address.
Very respectfully,
Your obedt. servant,
By order of the Surgeon General,
George A. Otis
Surgeon & Bvt. Lt. Colonel U.S. Vols.
Dr. E.D. Hudson,
Clinton Hall, Astor Place,
New York City
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington, D.C.
February 7, 1866
Dear Sir,
I am instructed by the Surgeon General to acknowledge your communication of the 25th ultimo, and to thank you for the nine (9) interesting photographs which accompanied it.
The Surgeon General has authorized me to give you the names of officers and soldiers who have recovered after undergoing the operation of excision of the head of the humerus and I have directed a list of such to be prepared.
In any future official publication with which I may be entrusted, I will carefully consider the subject of artificial limbs and the relative value of different apparatus, and I shall endeavor to do entire justice to inventors. Your claims in regard to apparatus for patients mutilated by the operations of Syme & Pirogoff, and by knee-joint amputations will not be overlooked.
I am anxious to obtain photographs of double amputations of the thigh or leg and of other cases of unusual interest, and am willing to pay for such. I hereby authorize you have photographs taken of cases of especial interest. As near as may be they should be uniform in size with those taken at the Army Medical Museum, of some of which you have copies. The negatives should be sent, securely packed, by Harnden’s Express, directed to Major General J.K. Barnes, Surgeon General U.S. Army. (For Army Medical Museum.) The bills should be made out in triplicate on the enclosed forms.
I have directed a copy of Circular No: 6, of this office, containing reports on the materials available for a medical and surgical history of the rebellion to be sent to your address.
Very respectfully,
Your obedt. servant,
By order of the Surgeon General,
George A. Otis
Surgeon & Bvt. Lt. Colonel U.S. Vols.
Dr. E.D. Hudson,
Clinton Hall, Astor Place,
New York City
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Letter of the Day: February 6
Numbered Correspondence 5752. Around this time, the Museum started a dental registry, or a collection of dental interest.
February 6, 1902
Prof. B.E. Lischer, D.M.D.
2341a Russell Avenue,
St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 3rd inst., in reference to a series of human teeth which Dr. A. H. Fuller, of your city, wishes to present to this Museum, has been referred to me for answer by the Surgeon General, U.S. Army
The Museum would prefer to receive these specimens properly tagged, but unmounted, so that they may be mounted and labeled here in uniformity with others, already in this collection.
Please have them carefully packed in a box marked Army Medical Museum, 7th and B Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C., and send them by express, freight charges to be paid here.
Thanking you for your considerate action in this matter, I am,
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Photographs of the series will be sent when the specimens have been mounted.
February 6, 1902
Prof. B.E. Lischer, D.M.D.
2341a Russell Avenue,
St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 3rd inst., in reference to a series of human teeth which Dr. A. H. Fuller, of your city, wishes to present to this Museum, has been referred to me for answer by the Surgeon General, U.S. Army
The Museum would prefer to receive these specimens properly tagged, but unmounted, so that they may be mounted and labeled here in uniformity with others, already in this collection.
Please have them carefully packed in a box marked Army Medical Museum, 7th and B Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C., and send them by express, freight charges to be paid here.
Thanking you for your considerate action in this matter, I am,
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Photographs of the series will be sent when the specimens have been mounted.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Museum closes today at 1:30
Due to inclement weather (ie a forecast of 24 inches of snow), the Museum will close at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 05, 2010. Updates to operating hours will be posted to the Museum’s information line at (202) 782-2200.
Letters of the Day
Outgoing correspondence, in the days before carbon paper and mimeograph and Xerox, was copied by hand into bound volumes of blank pages. It was the only way to keep track of what correspondence went out. A scribe of some of the letters was obviously an artist and a bit of a rebel because he added flourishes to many of the letters he copied. I wish I knew who it was. Here are two examples on one page of his artistry.
Right off I'm going to apologize for the softness of this photo. I'm not allowed to take my real camera into the building but I am allowed my cell phone, so I was reduced to using it for this picture. It's a great phone but a lousy camera. But as Mike would say, Notwithstanding That, I'm going to post this shot anyway.
Right off I'm going to apologize for the softness of this photo. I'm not allowed to take my real camera into the building but I am allowed my cell phone, so I was reduced to using it for this picture. It's a great phone but a lousy camera. But as Mike would say, Notwithstanding That, I'm going to post this shot anyway.
Letter of the day: February 5
Surgeon General’s Office
February 5, 1873
Dr. H.A. Martin
My dear doctor: Yours of the 3rd has just reached me. The diptheritic cast reaches us safely, has been placed in the medical section, and is fully appreciated. Dr. Otis having written, I supposed had acknowledged this as well as the cast of the plastic operation. Let me assure you the omission did not arise from want of appreciation. Many thanks for the additional vaccine vesicle. Those you previously sent are undergoing the hardening process and will soon be ready to make sections. I am sanguine of interesting results, and will write you how we get along. A full set of the section will be reserved for you.
The catalogue of the Library, first edition, is out of print; only three hundred and fifty copies were printed. Dr. Billings is now at work on a second edition which will contain about twice as many titles as the first. Your name has been put down for a copy of the first part of the medical history of the war now in the hands of the binder.
I learned last evening that a little boy who was staying with the Shermans, when I vaccinated them last, and who left immediately after took nicely. I had intended to write you that Mrs. Sherman’s arm was quite sore after the last vaccination but presented nothing characteristic. On the whole I hardly think it worth while to re-vaccinate them again, regarding them as “protected,” especially as I used the method you described. If, however, you think it worthwhile, I will urge them to try once more.
Sincerely your friend,
J.J. Woodward
February 5, 1873
Dr. H.A. Martin
My dear doctor: Yours of the 3rd has just reached me. The diptheritic cast reaches us safely, has been placed in the medical section, and is fully appreciated. Dr. Otis having written, I supposed had acknowledged this as well as the cast of the plastic operation. Let me assure you the omission did not arise from want of appreciation. Many thanks for the additional vaccine vesicle. Those you previously sent are undergoing the hardening process and will soon be ready to make sections. I am sanguine of interesting results, and will write you how we get along. A full set of the section will be reserved for you.
The catalogue of the Library, first edition, is out of print; only three hundred and fifty copies were printed. Dr. Billings is now at work on a second edition which will contain about twice as many titles as the first. Your name has been put down for a copy of the first part of the medical history of the war now in the hands of the binder.
I learned last evening that a little boy who was staying with the Shermans, when I vaccinated them last, and who left immediately after took nicely. I had intended to write you that Mrs. Sherman’s arm was quite sore after the last vaccination but presented nothing characteristic. On the whole I hardly think it worth while to re-vaccinate them again, regarding them as “protected,” especially as I used the method you described. If, however, you think it worthwhile, I will urge them to try once more.
Sincerely your friend,
J.J. Woodward
Thursday, February 4, 2010
NPR interview on the history of obstetricsI
I caught part of this on the ride home today and it sounds pretty interesting - 'Get Me Out': Making Babies Through The Ages
Letter of the Day #2: February 4
February 4, 1889
General:
I have the honor to request authority to purchase for deposit in the Army Medical Museum the following specimens to be paid for from the Museum appropriation:
Skull of Troglodytes gorilla, adult, Cost, $30.00
Skull of Troglodytes niger, adult [Cost] $13.00
I am, General, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
(Signed) John S. Billings
Surgeon US Army
Curator Army Medical Museum
Surgeon General, US Army
Washington D.C.
General:
I have the honor to request authority to purchase for deposit in the Army Medical Museum the following specimens to be paid for from the Museum appropriation:
Skull of Troglodytes gorilla, adult, Cost, $30.00
Skull of Troglodytes niger, adult [Cost] $13.00
I am, General, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
(Signed) John S. Billings
Surgeon US Army
Curator Army Medical Museum
Surgeon General, US Army
Washington D.C.
Letter of the Day #1: February 4
A microtome is used to cut sections for microscopic slides.
February 4, 1905
To the Surgeon General,
U.S. Army.
Sir:
I have the honor to request authority to purchase for deposit in this Museum:
1 large or flat section cutting microtome, 1900 pattern, with double lever to prevent cutting thick and thin sections, est. cost… $45.00 to be paid for from the Museum appropriation.
Very respectfully,
C.L. Heinzmann
Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
[handwritten note]
See Cat. of W. Watson & Sons, 313 High Holborn, London W. C. p. 124 No. 840.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New York Times on Hela cell line book
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot is the book. The two articles are:
February 3, 2010
Books of The Times
A Woman’s Undying Gift to Science
By DWIGHT GARNER
Second Opinion
A Lasting Gift to Medicine That Wasn’t Really a Gift
By DENISE GRADY
February 1, 2010
February 3, 2010
Books of The Times
A Woman’s Undying Gift to Science
By DWIGHT GARNER
Second Opinion
A Lasting Gift to Medicine That Wasn’t Really a Gift
By DENISE GRADY
February 1, 2010
Letters of the Day: February 3
This is the first set of letters from a collection donated to the Museum, rather than being the conduct of Museum business. The three come from this collection:
OHA 228
* McMillin Letters, 1865-1866
* .1 cubic foot, .1 box.
* No finding aid, arranged, inactive, unrestricted.
* Tissue and letterbook copies of letters sent by Thomas McMillin in his position of assistant medical purveyor in New York City.
I wonder how you lose 336 ounces of chloroform?
OHA 228
* McMillin Letters, 1865-1866
* .1 cubic foot, .1 box.
* No finding aid, arranged, inactive, unrestricted.
* Tissue and letterbook copies of letters sent by Thomas McMillin in his position of assistant medical purveyor in New York City.
I wonder how you lose 336 ounces of chloroform?
Medical Purveyor's Office
New York
Feb. 3 1866
Sir;
An invoice addressed to Mr. George Wright late Medical Storekeeper at this Depot ha been received. I have to inform you that the instruments etc have never been received. As the invoice is dated Dec. 1st, I presume they have been lost in transportation.
Very respectfully,
Your Obt Servt.
[Sig.] Thos. McMillin
Asst. Surg. USA and Asst Medical Purveyor
Dr. Thos. F. Perley
Late Surg. USA
Portland, ME
--
Medical Purveyor's Office
New York
Feb. 3 1866
Sir;
You will please send an Invoice of thirty four (34) cases Hospital and Medical Supplies received at this Depot as now has been received Case no. 30. Said to contain 336 oz [zuici?] Chlor. Liq. [chloroform liquid] has not been received. I cannot receipt you for the Bedsteads mentioned in your letter of Feb. 1st; as all Bedsteads received, were accredited to Dr. Orton late asst. Surg. USA.
Respectfully,
Your Obt Servt.
[Sig.] Thos. McMillin
Asst. Surg. USA and Asst Medical Purveyor
Dr. J. W. Merrain
Act Asst. Surg USA
Fort Schuyler, NYH [New York Harbor]
--
Medical Purveyor's Office
New York
Feby. 3 1866
Sir
The receipts for Medical and hospital property issued you together with the endorsement that the Hypodermic Syringe was missing has been received.
Will you please to inform me if you saw the box unpacked, and know from personal observation that the instrument was not received.
I am Sir Very Respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant
[Signed] Thos. McMillin
Asst. Surg. USA and Asst Medical Purveyor
C. H. King.
A.A. Surg. USA
Fort Trumbull, Conn
Cecil Miller collection, new in the Archives
We’ve just received the records of Dr. Cecil R. Miller, who was the NCOIC of the 430th AAFRTU ("Army Air Force Replacement Training Unit", a convalescent center for battle fatigue), Ephrata, WA, possibly co-located with the 430th Combat Crew Training Station-Standby, at Ephrata Army Air Base. It includes 21 photographs, 5 typescript documents, "You Are Convalescing In An Army Air Forces Hospital" booklet and digital image of Dr. Miller.
Our donor kindly made PDFs of the 5 documents noted above, and I scanned the photographs this morning, a quick job. It’s so nice when we can say a collection is digitized.
Here are a few photos from the collection. One is labeled, “Ephrata. Our convalescent garden is mainly painted rocks!!” The second says, “I think this is the Altitude Training Chamber.” And the third is Sergeant Miller. Higher-resolution versions will be on our Flickr site.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Double Take
Despite the cover art, this is not a collection of spooky stories for children. It's a history of embryology and teratology from the 1960s by Ekkehard Kleiss in Venezuela. I can't read Spanish, but based on the many images inside, Kleiss compiled information on prehistoric cultural objects that clearly depict congenital abnormalities. The smaller picture shows what looks to me like it could be Arnold-Chiari malformation (?).
I didn't find out much else about this Kleiss character, other than that he was a professor of anatomy and embryology and also wrote on the history of mummification.
Letter of the Day: February 2
I don't know how key blanks qualify for expenditure from the emergency fund unless that's the only fund that had any money.
February 2, 1889
General,
I have the honor to state that the following articles are required for use at the Army Medical Museum and would request authority to buy them as emergency purchases to be paid for from the Museum's appropriation.
2 papers Tacks Estimated Cost .26
Screw-eyes " " 1.50
10 lbs 8d finishing nails " " .50
1 dozen Key blanks " " 3.00
2 pieces thin plate glass " " .60
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) John S. Billings
Surgeon, US Army
Curator Army Medical Museum
Surgeon General US Army,
Washington, D.C.
February 2, 1889
General,
I have the honor to state that the following articles are required for use at the Army Medical Museum and would request authority to buy them as emergency purchases to be paid for from the Museum's appropriation.
2 papers Tacks Estimated Cost .26
Screw-eyes " " 1.50
10 lbs 8d finishing nails " " .50
1 dozen Key blanks " " 3.00
2 pieces thin plate glass " " .60
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) John S. Billings
Surgeon, US Army
Curator Army Medical Museum
Surgeon General US Army,
Washington, D.C.
Monday, February 1, 2010
PR: BORDEN INSTITUTE RELEASES CARE OF THE COMBAT AMPUTEE
NEWS RELEASE
___________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Narvin Gray, 202-356-1012 x 2-6110 or
narvin.gray@amedd.army.mil
Book Covers Comprehensive Treatment of Service Members with Limb Amputations
Borden Institute Releases Care of the Combat Amputee
This book provides a significant update to the field of rehabilitation, with comprehensive coverage of emerging approaches, techniques, and technologies for amputee care. “Despite more destructive weapons and horrific wounds, the men and women of Military Medicine, as a whole, have continuously adapted to changing requirements and have developed comprehensive rehabilitative methods. This approach, combined with the goal of restoring our wounded service members to the highest possible functional level, is resulting in the optimal reintegration of our wounded Warriors,” according to Lieutenant General Eric B. Schoomaker, Surgeon General of the US Army.
Written by experts in the military, Veterans Administration, and private sector—with specialty editing by Colonel Paul Pasquina (US Army Medical Corps) and Dr Rory Cooper (VA; University of Pittsburg)—the publication addresses aspects of combat amputee care ranging from surgical techniques to long-term care, polytrauma and comorbidities such as traumatic brain injury and burns, pain management, psychological issues, physical and occupational therapy, VA benefits, prosthetics and adaptive technologies, sports and recreational opportunities, and return to duty and vocational rehabilitation. The book will serve as an essential resource for providers involved in amputee care, as well as service members and veterans with major limb amputations.
For more information on the Borden Institute and how to order the publications, visit the organization online at www.bordeninstitute.army.mil.
###
Letter of the day: February 1
These prints were needed for the second edition of the Medical & Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion.
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington City, DC
February 1, 1868
Baron von Egloffstein,
Superintendent Heliographic Engraving Company
135 West 25th Street
New York City
Baron,
The two impressions of the plate representing the surgeons railway car of the hospital train of the Department of the Cumberland were duly received and submitted to the Surgeon General. I have also to acknowledge your communication of the 30th ult., announcing the transmission of these proofs, and asking for my criticism thereon.
I regard the work as a very satisfactory copy of the drawing. Much of the engraving appears to me to be done by hand, but it is immaterial how it is done provided so good work can be furnished at the same price as lithographic work.
For an edition of 5020 prints of a similar plate, done by lithography, this office has heretofore paid one hundred dollars, the paper being furnished by this office.
I am instructed by the Surgeon General to request you to send a proof on the thin paper. I herewith transmit, and also a statement of the price at which you can furnish 5020 prints, the paper being furnished.
I am, Baron,
Very respectfully,
Your obt. Servant,
By order of the Surgeon General,
[George A. Otis]
Ass’t. Surgeon, U.S. Army
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington City, DC
February 1, 1868
Baron von Egloffstein,
Superintendent Heliographic Engraving Company
135 West 25th Street
New York City
Baron,
The two impressions of the plate representing the surgeons railway car of the hospital train of the Department of the Cumberland were duly received and submitted to the Surgeon General. I have also to acknowledge your communication of the 30th ult., announcing the transmission of these proofs, and asking for my criticism thereon.
I regard the work as a very satisfactory copy of the drawing. Much of the engraving appears to me to be done by hand, but it is immaterial how it is done provided so good work can be furnished at the same price as lithographic work.
For an edition of 5020 prints of a similar plate, done by lithography, this office has heretofore paid one hundred dollars, the paper being furnished by this office.
I am instructed by the Surgeon General to request you to send a proof on the thin paper. I herewith transmit, and also a statement of the price at which you can furnish 5020 prints, the paper being furnished.
I am, Baron,
Very respectfully,
Your obt. Servant,
By order of the Surgeon General,
[George A. Otis]
Ass’t. Surgeon, U.S. Army
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Post book review on creating a cell line
This review of THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS hy Rebecca Skloot (Crown. 369 pp. $26) is fascinating. One knows cell lines exist, but one doesn't realize that they can be tracked back to a person.
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