Letter of the Day: October 17

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 236
Subject: Emergency purchase:

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

Washington, D. C. October 17, 1894

To the Surgeon General, U. S. Army, Washington D. C.

General:

I have the honor to request authority to purchase, for deposit in the Army Medical Museum, a collection of models of hygienic apparatus illustrating ventilation, heating, etc., at an estimated cost of $75.00, to be paid for from the Museum appropriation as an emergency purchase.

Very respectfully,

J. S. Billings

Deputy Surgeon General, U. S. Army

Letter of the Day: October 16

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 971


Lawrence, Mass.,


Oct. 16, 1895


To the official in charge of the Army and Navy Medical Museum.


Dear Sir-


In the October “Current Literature” is an article taken from Cassier’s Magazine under the name of Dr. Henry Morton stating that there is in the medical museum a piece of glass containing the Lord’s Prayer engraved on a space of the 1/441 by the 1/294 of an inch.


If you will kindly inform me if this is correct I shall be much obliged.


Yours truly,
R.P. Iddings

Letter of the Day: October 15

U.S.A. General Hospital
Frederick, Maryland
October 15 1862

Dar Doctor-

Yours of the 12th came to hand last evg [evening].

I have only been waiting to get the enclosed not of a case the specimens of which can be obtained in Washington in order to write you.

The Barrel is filling up well. I have now some sixty odd specimens with some notes. The great lack I find is to obtain the results. The notes are sent with the specimens + if they are the results of operations the final result of the case is not known + the surgeons are not careful to send subsequently the results. I am however hunting them up gradually. As soon as the Barrel is full I will Express it to you and advise you of the fact by mail.

I am having good times in operative surgery and would not for at least the present exchange my position for any other what ever. We have the cream.

Porter is doing well + were he here I would send his regards.

The post mortem specimens I spoke of are to be found at Carver Hospital in the room formally occupied by Dr. Russell U.S.A. now occupied by Dr. Banks + wife. The colon is in alcohol on a shelf – or rather was there – and the vertebrae are on a board under the ventilator.

Dr. Banks probably knows of their whereabouts.

With kind regards
Truly your friend
W.W. Keen Jr.

Post on DC's plans for Walter Reed

D.C. to unveil plans for redevelopment of Walter Reed

By Jonathan O'Connell

Capital Business Staff Writer
 October 14, 2010

Letter of the Day: October 14

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 962

War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. October 14, 1895

To the Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Washington, D.C.

General:

I have the honor to request authority to purchase for deposit in the Army Medical Museum, a sketch, from life, of a case of four (4) testicles, at a cost of $5.00, and one (1) medical medal, Joh. D. Major, at a cost of $9.00, to be paid for from the Museum appropriation.

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

concept design for anatomical specimen display

concept design Navjeet Singh 2010
we have 15000 or so anatomical specimens,

, so its missing alot of color blah blah blah excuses circumstances. yak

I remember a thesis idea for containers and the many uses of
containers and their relevance to humans, where we send containers, containers inside containers inside containers...the house, the room, the closet...the way we live our lives. hmmm? ok whatever did this last night just a draft. enjoy

AFIP's Debra McElroy has passed away

Debra McElroy longtime AFIP employee

 

Debra Ann (Bottazzi) McElroy, 53, of Ellicott City, died Oct. 8 at Gilchrist Hospice Care Center, Towson, Md.  Debra affectionately known as “Debbie” by Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) coworkers died of cancer. 

 

McElroy began her career with the federal government as a histopathology technician at The AFIP, Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13, 1981.

 

McElroy, who grew up in Washington, D.C., and a longtime AFIP employee managed 12 laboratories and supervised 59 employees during her nearly 29 years of service here.

Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Dennis McElroy, of Ellicott City; daughter of Joseph and Barbara A. (Heflin) Bottazzi, of York, Pa.; sister of Maria Ellis, of York, Pa., and the late Joseph Daniel Bottazzi. Debra was an avid lover of  dogs.

 

Friends can call Friday Oct. from 6-8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Slack Funeral Home, P.A., 3871 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, Md., 21043. Services and interment are private. In lieu of flowers, memorial’s may be directed to the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and 800 Wyman Park Drive, Suite 110, Baltimore, Md., 21211. Go to 222.slackfuneralhome.com for online condolences and directions.

 

Letter of the Day: October 12

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 959

October 12 1895

Doctor Charles H. Alden,
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Surgeon General’s Office,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Doctor:

I beg to report that the specimen of supposed bullet which was referred to you by Medical Referee Thomas Featherstonehaugh of the Pension Bureau, has been subjected to a careful chemical examination by Dr. Wm. M. Mew of the Army Medical Museum, who makes the following report:

“The substance contains no lead nor other metal save a trace of iron; it is composed chiefly of calcium and phosphoric acid, probably calcium phosphate, so it may be bone or cartilage, or as you suggest, it may be a calcified cell-growth.”

I beg further to state that I have carefully examined, microscopically, another portion of the supposed bullet, and am inclined to think, from the appearance of the structure, that it s a portion of a calcified lymphatic gland.

Very sincerely yours,
Walter Reed,
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.

Romare Bearden mosaic

DIA

More DIA

Letter of the Day: October 11

No 201 W. Franklin St
Baltimore Oct: 11 1887

Surgeon J.S. Billings U.S.A.

My dear Doctor

Having had remarkable success with a recent artificial crystallization of Cystine I send by present mail a new slide of the beautiful but very rare substance.

It was obtained from a lady who had septicemia after a 6 month’s miscarriage, although there can be no relation of causation in its pathological state.

Hoping that you are well – and thanking you for vol. VIII of Index I remain

Yours very sincerely
Christopher Johnston

Detroit Institute of the Arts

spent the afternoon with my son at the DIA

8 bucks lets you see some great antiquities, paintings,

sculptures, tapestries, murals by Diego Rivera

and a plethora of African American art

one of my favorite works by Romare Bearden

a huge mosaic 15 feet x 12 was amazing.

DIA museum

Letter of the Day: October 10

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 959

Pension Bureau, Oct. 10 1895

Doctor C.H. Alden,
Asst. Surg. General,

Dear Doctor:

This will introduce to you Doctor D. M. McPherson of this Bureau. The doctor brings to you a substance found in a lung upon post mortem. It is claimed that this substance is the remains of a bullet, + the admission of the widow’s claim turns upon this point.

We have made no examination of the substance for the reason that an examination by someone outside of the official force of the Bureau will carry much more weight. Can I ask you to request someone to test this substance for lead and write a little certificate as to results of tests. If the substance is not lead, we would be glad to learn what it is.

Very respectfully
Thos. Featherstonehaugh
Medical Referee

{Tune in October 12th for the exciting answer!}

Letter of the Day: October 9 / CP 1539

Norfolk, Va
October 9 / 67

Col and Surg: A. L. Edwards USA
Chf M. O. Bur Rgt
Washington D.C.

Col:

I have the honor to transmit herewith Photograph of “Frank Lamb” born at Weldens Orchard near Halifax North Carolina, in the year 1789.

It’s a case of “Inguinal hernia” of 69 years standing. The man was 9 years of age when hernia occurred. The hernia was reducible until he was 40 years of age, when sold to a man, named “Baine Lamb” at or near Jerusalem S. Hampton Co. Va: for the sum of $150.00. The overseer of said man compelled the poor man to work in the woods, cutting and hauling heavy timber, without giving him the support of truss, after his own was worn out. The hernia had its present size about 10 years ago, and I should judge weighs about 10 pounds.

Frank Lamb was send (sic) from Jerusalem to Hospital for Freedmen at this City on the 17th July 1867. Has up to this date, not regarding the continued irritation upon his bowels, enjoyed fair health. The Photograph is not very well taken, the artist could not do better, as the patient trembled too much, and hoping it will nevertheless prove interesting.

I am Surgeon with profound respect, your most ob: ser’t
Ferdinand Lessing
AA Surg USA
In charge Hosp: for Freedman
Norfolk City Va.

Letter of the Day: October 8 (2 of 2)

The World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, New Orleans.

Medical Dep’t. U.S. Army Participation,

Officer of Medical Officer in Charge,

935 F Street, N.W., Third Floor.

 

Washington, D.C. Oct. 8, 1884

 

Doctor:

 

Please let Bearer have bust in plaster, life size, of the late Dr. Otis. I indented to have it bronzed for the Exposition.

 

Yours truly,

Henry McElderrry

Asst Surgeon, U.S.A.

 

To J. S. Billings

Major and Surgeon

U.S.A.

 

Letter of the Day: October 8 (1 of 2)

Ward’s Natural Science Establishment,

Nos. 16—26 College Avenue (opposite University),

Rochester, N.Y., Oct. 8 1885.

 

Dr. John Billings.

Army Medical Museum.

 

Dear Sir,

 

I enclose a small bill * (Skeleton of 19 years old cat $5.00.) simply to put it on record, so that it may be paid at some future day.

 

I am offered from Europe two young Gorillas – 1 ½ years old – male and female. They are in spirits, with their viscera taken out, but left in good shape to dissect every part of the muscular system and afterwards to make skeletons.

 

My price – shipped to you form here – is $275 for the pair or $150 for one.

 

As such specimens are rare, I make you an early offer.

 

Respectfully yours,

 

Henry A. Ward,

 

I have Jumbo’s heart in alcohol in a 5 Gallon keg which it nearly fills. Price $40.

 

*Bill forwarded to Disbursing Div., S.G.O. Oct 10, 1885.

Letter of the Day: October 7

Fort Brady, Mich.

Oct. 7^th 1875.

 

Dear Doctor,

 

I enclose a letter from Dr. Mallack in the Hudson Bay Co.s’ service, + now stationed at Moose Factory, 600 miles north of this place. Through the kindness of my friend Capt. Wilson, who resides in Canada opposite Brady, the skull referred to arrived here safely – it is the crania of a full-blooded Cree Indian + in excellent condition. It is to be regretted that Dr. Mallack cd. [could] not send more. I hope yet to obtain some Esquimaux bones. Capt. Wilson who has just returned from those polar regimes, informed me that the Esqimaux in that country are in a most degraded state – incest being quite common, some even marrying their own mothers, or rather having their mothers “in loco conjugis”. The weather has been very stormy during the past month or I shd. [should] have accomplished much more. I lost nine Indian crania three weeks ago by the upsetting of a boat in a squall - + the man I had employed to secure them for me, only escaped drowning by a miracle. This was a great loss, + disheartened me for a while. However, I have many places yet to explore, + trust that I may be more successful. Never having rec’d [received] any letter from you, I fear my specimens have not that value, in yr. estimation, which I attach to them.

 

Yrs. very sincerely,

J.H.T. King

 

Surge G. A. Otis, U.S.A.