Catalogue of the Medical and Microscopical Sections of the Army Medical Museum - Joseph Woodward & Edward Curtis
http://www.archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheMedicalAndMicroscopicalSectionsOfTheArmyMedicalMuseum
Catalogue of the Surgical Section of the United States Army Medical Museum - Alfred A. Woodhull
Describes the American Civil War anatomical specimens, usually bone, in the Museum.
http://www.archive.org/details/CatalogueOfTheSurgicalSectionOfTheUnitedStatesArmyMedicalMuseum
Hayward & Hutchinson,
424 Ninth Street, N.W.
Elias S. Hutchinson.
Washington, D.C., August 30, 1888
Dr J. S. Billings
Dear Sir:
While appreciating your kindness in sending to us for estimate for a cremating furnace, but as it is so much away from our line of work we cannot give it the necessary to make a close competitive estimate + respectfully return the plans with this.
Truly,
Hayward & Hutchinson
12th U.S. Infantry,
Tompkins Square
New York
August 26th 1863
Surgeon J.H. Brinton U.S.A.
Washington D.C.
Doctor.
I send you by Express a few specimens of balls, extracted at Gettysburg, Pa. with an account of each case.
Also., a few spiculae of bone. It was my intention to leave them with you when in Washington but the matter escaped my memory.
You will hear from me whenever matters of surgical interest occur.
I remain
Very Respectfully
Your obt. Servt.
E. de W. Breneman
Asst Surgeon
U.S.A.
War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
Washington, D.C., Aug 25, 1884
Asst Surg. W Matthews:
Asst Curator A.M.M.
Sir:
In the portion of turkeys liver, contributed by Asst Surgeon Shannon U.S.A. and referred to me for microscopical examination, I find numerous nodules, a portion of which have undergone cystic degeneration of a peculiar character. They are neither carcinomatous or sarcomatous.
Very respectfully
Your obdt servant
J.C. McConnell M.D.
Fort Bridger, Utah
August 24th 1868.
Sir:
In reply to your communication dated January 14th 1868, concerning specimens for the Army Medical Museum, I will state that opportunities of observing the results of “injuries + surgical diseases of the lower animals” at this post are very limited + nothing has come under my observation since the date of your letter that could be contributed to the section of the Museum illustrative of the subject.
Large wild game such as buffalo, elk, deer, antelope +c, are not found in this immediate vicinity + such is very seldom indeed brought to the post.
As a consequence of the scarcity of game no bands of Indians camp near hear except during a short time in the early summer when they collect to receive annuities, + are soon off for their fishing and hunting grounds again. I have not known of the death of an Indian in this locality since I have been stationed at the post – hence have had no opportunity of collecting crania.
During the present summer I have obtained specimens of bows + arrows from three tribes that have passed through the post – the Shoshone, Bannack + Ute – the weapons will be sent to the museum by Express + it will be observed that there is much similarity in those of the three tribes – all of them roving over the country in different direction within 200 miles of the post. The bows of all are usually made of the bow of oxyokes obtained along the several emigrant routes through the country. When first obtained they are soaked in hot water until they become pliable, + are bent into their present shape, reversing the curve as found. The component curve in the middle of the bow is thus easily obtained. The front or outer part of the bow is then curved with shreds of tendons obtained from along the spine of their game – either deer or buffalo. This is securely fastened on, as will be observed, by glue, which the Indian makes from the hoof or horn of the game. The elasticity of the bow is increased in this way.
The strings they make of tendons also.
The specimen of the Shoshone bow is one of the finest I have ever seen both as regards finish and springs. The remark about the similarity of the bows will apply also to the arrows. Those of the Utes are shorter than the arrows of either of the other tribes + the feathers extend along a greater proportionate length of the arrow. The grooves along the arrows are not made of a uniform curvature, but with these three tribes, they will be found much more tortuous than on the arrows of the Sioux, Cheyenne + Arapahoes, who roam on the Eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. The grooves in their arrows are nearly straight. The object of these grooves is to facilitate the escape of blood while the arrow remains in the body of the animal.
The feathers on the arrows in these specimens, it will be seen, are fastened only at the extremities. On the arrows of some tribes they are attached the entire length of the feathers by glue.
The base of the arrow heads of these tribes are never bearded, + in some instances, as in the forwarded specimens of the Ute arrow, the slope of the base is in the opposite way, as if to facilitate its removal from the body. The Sioux, I am informed make their arrow heads more or less bearded. The round pointed arrows are used in shooting small games such as rabbits, birds, prairie dogs +c
The tomahawk sent is a weapon not often carried by the tribe from which I obtained it + the buck who had it, displayed it from his quiver more as an ornament than otherwise. These instruments are made in the East and sold to the Indians by traders. The specimen I forwarded is made to be used as a pipe, but it is of doubtful utility in that respect + seems not to have been used as such by the owner.
I send also a specimen of a Navajo arrow said to have been poisoned. A dark substance may be observed adhering to the arrow just above the head.
This description of the articles sent may not be desired but as it may not be entirely devoid of interest to yourself or to others, I have thought it best to give it.
The articles I have forwarded were purchased of Indians for cash to the amount of twenty-seven dollars. This may be regarded as an unreasonable expenditure for things of so little intrinsic value, but in consequences of the liberal prices they always obtain for every thing they sell at this post, I was unable to get them at a lower rate.
In the same package I send the bones of a fractured elbow joint from the accidental discharge of a gun loaded with eleven buckshot, the muzzle being within a few inches of the part at the time of the discharge of the piece. If a report of the case is desired I will be very happy to furnish it.
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servant
W. E. Waters,
Asst. Surg. U.S. Army
Bvt. Lt. Col. Geo. A. Otis
Asst. Surg. U.S. Army
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington, D.C.
Central Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.
P.O. Address, National Military Home., Ohio, Aug 20th, 1883
Friend Billings
D. Sir
As our fraternal friend Dr. Otis has left us and I am not acquainted with the med. Officers in charge of the Med. Museum and as pathological specimens of interest are not infrequent here I expected to see you at the Cleveland Meeting and if the specimens are wanted at the Med. Museum I would try to get them to you.
Are they out of Sulphuric Acid in Egypt or why do they let so many die of cholera?
Yours respect.
H.A. Stephens
Dr. J.S. Billings
Surg. Gen. Office
Wash D.C.
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 8573
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington
August 18, 1905.
Major Ogden Rafferty,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Fort Monroe, Va.
Sir:
I have the honor to report the following as result of the bacteriological examination of four samples of water forwarded by you August 1, 1905, and received at this laboratory on the following day:
Sample A. Creek water, brought in claret wine cask, from New Market Creek, Hampton, Va.
Numerical count 459 bacteria per c.c.
1 c.c. of this water was added to each of 10 glucose bouillon fermentation tubes with the result that all of them contained gas on the third day of incubation. The amount varied from 20% to 60%.
Sample B. New Market Creek water, after treatment by electrolysis.
Numerical count 6491 bacteria per c.c.
Of ten fermentation tubes receiving each 1 c.c. o this water, five contained gas on the third day of incubation, the amount varying from 109% to 85%.
Sample C. Creek water, mixed with a typhoid culture and subjected to electrolysis for five minutes.
Numerical count 23141 bacteria per c.c.
All of the glucose bouillon fermentation tubes charged with 1 c.c. of this water, contained gas on the second day, varying in amount from 55% to 95%. No typhoid bacilli were recovered from this water after inoculating large flasks of sterile bouillon and then using the method of Conradi and Drigalski four days later.
Sample D. The same as sample C. strained through a layer of absorbent cotton.
Numerical count 18616 bacteria per c.c.
The ten fermentation tubes, charged in the usual way with 1 c.c. of this water, all contained gas on the second day of incubation. On the fourth day the amount of gas present ranged from 30% to 75%. All attempts to recover typhoid bacilli from this water resulted in failure.
REMARKS: The failure to recover typhoid bacilli is probably due to the well-established fact that this organism usually disappears from water containing ordinary bacteria within three or four days.
“A” is quite turbid, is tinted red and gives off the aroma of wine.
“B” shows a faint tint, contains a moderate amount of coagulum.
“C” is the most turbid of the set.
“D” contains a moderate amount of coagulum, but is perhaps the clearest of the four. It is possible that the tannin, or other substance in “A” has inhibited multiplication of the bacteria present in that sample.
“B” contained about one-third as many bacteria as “D”, and nearly four times as many as “C”. From the bacteriological standpoint “B” is the least objectionable of the four waters; whether this is due to the mode of treatment or some other cause cannot be well determined without an intimate knowledge of the details of the manipulations. Neither of the samples can be regarded as a good potable water.
Very respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut., Asst. Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator, Army Medical Museum
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 875
The Lake House
B. Teufel, Proprietor.
Grass Lake, Mich., Aug. 17 1895
Dr. Jno. S. Billings
Washington, D.C.
Dear Doctor
I have a monstrosity, which would add greatly to your selection and which I claim to differ from any on record, and which I wish to sell. These are two perfectly form[ed] girl babes connected at Sternum by bony union only. Weith 15#, two (2) heads, four (4) arms – four (4) limbs and every thing usual, except connection. They are nicely preserved, and very handsome.
If you wish a better description I refer you to Dr. Martau (Prof. dis. of women) at Ann Arbor. Hoping that the Museum is in need of such and trusting that I may hear from you in a few days,
I remain,
Dr Lee, Jr.
Richmond Va
Aug 16th 1868
Dear Otis
Yours of the 14th was received yesterday + I saw Dr. Williams as requested + will have the [accounts? ] made out tomorrow + sent on as requested. Was it Baxter or who in the devil was it that sent me under the frank of Senator Yates that resolution concerning the appropriation forbidding the S.G. to use any more money? I think if it was Mr B that he out to be fixed + I would be the one to do it if I could get a chance at him. I am on the track of some fossils, which I hope to get for you disentered (sic, disinterred) at Manchester some time since. If I can succeed in getting them they will be a prize for you in the way of exchange if for no other use. I only hope that I can get them.
I am still gunning after that spec[imen] of regeneration of Mt Culp bones – and on a new track just now. A “little brief authority” I think will fetch it, together with #40 or #50, more I can not tell you at present for fear that I might fail.
By the way before I forget it can I have some more of my pics printed at my expense if so I would like 1 doz of the large + 3 doz of the small recollect I want to pay for them. I wish that I had some news to tell you but have not.
Yours truly,
Janeway
