Saturday, October 23, 2010
Ad for Collections manager for museum move?
A few weeks ago, this project manager position appeared to refer to our museum's move. Now there's an announcement for a collections manager that sounds like it's for us, posted by History Associates. It's the first job here. We don't actually know who's handling the move yet.
Letter of the Day: October 23 - numismatics
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 976
October 23, 1895
Dr. Horatio R. Storer,
Newport, R.I.
Dear Dr. Storer:
Your very kind letter of the 20th inst. has been in received and in return I wish to say that it will give me great pleasure to assist you in making your articles on the interesting subject of medical numismatics as complete as possible, asking only that you will give due credit as to the source of information.
The description of the Vercelli medal of which I spoke in my previous letter is as follows:
Obverse: Bust to left, in high relief. Under shoulder: G. Galeazzi F. – Perigraph: AL CARD. GVALA BICCHIERI PATR. VERCELL. FONDATORE. Beneath bust: MCCXX.
Reverse: Inscription in seven lines: LA |CONGREGAZIONE | DELLO SPEDALE MAGG. | DI VERCELLI | REGNANDO CARLO ALBERTO | PADRE DEI POVERI | MDCCCXLI.
Bronze, size 28.
I attempted to take an impress of the medal, but did not succeed on account of the high relief.
The errors pointed out by you at the time the Lee collection was purchased for the Museum have all been corrected long ago, and this office endeavored to carefully compare the descriptions of medals given by you in your various publications with the medals in this collection, and to ascertain what medals of the Museum collection have not been referred to by you. To complete this comparison I am anxious to obtain the following publications which are not on file in this office, viz.:
American Journal of Numismatics,
1887, October.
1888, January, July, October.
1889, April, July, October.
1890, January, April, July, October.
1891, “, “, “, “
1892, “, “, “, “
1893, January, April.
1895, October.
and I should be very thankful if you will point out a way of obtaining them. All other publications noted on the printed circular which you kindly forwarded are in the Library.
In making the above comparisons some deviations from your publications have been noted on our cards, and I shall gladly point them out to you. As you well know the work will have to be carefully done and will require considerable time and labor; but I will endeavor to give you from time to time such information as may be of use to you.
In regard to duplicates that you may have received through the Fisher and other collections, if you will send me a list of them, with prices, I will select such as are not in our collection to be submitted for purchase.
There was lately submitted to me a medal of Fortunius Licetus, 1577-1657- (see C.A. Rudolphi, 1829, No. 395, and Duisburg, 1862, No. XLVI, ) silver, claimed to be very rare, if not unique; but I hesistated to purchase on account of the price, $37.50. Is the medal as rare as represented?
Returning Dr. Frazer’s letter, I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Army Medical Museum and Library.
October 23, 1895
Dr. Horatio R. Storer,
Newport, R.I.
Dear Dr. Storer:
Your very kind letter of the 20th inst. has been in received and in return I wish to say that it will give me great pleasure to assist you in making your articles on the interesting subject of medical numismatics as complete as possible, asking only that you will give due credit as to the source of information.
The description of the Vercelli medal of which I spoke in my previous letter is as follows:
Obverse: Bust to left, in high relief. Under shoulder: G. Galeazzi F. – Perigraph: AL CARD. GVALA BICCHIERI PATR. VERCELL. FONDATORE. Beneath bust: MCCXX.
Reverse: Inscription in seven lines: LA |CONGREGAZIONE | DELLO SPEDALE MAGG. | DI VERCELLI | REGNANDO CARLO ALBERTO | PADRE DEI POVERI | MDCCCXLI.
Bronze, size 28.
I attempted to take an impress of the medal, but did not succeed on account of the high relief.
The errors pointed out by you at the time the Lee collection was purchased for the Museum have all been corrected long ago, and this office endeavored to carefully compare the descriptions of medals given by you in your various publications with the medals in this collection, and to ascertain what medals of the Museum collection have not been referred to by you. To complete this comparison I am anxious to obtain the following publications which are not on file in this office, viz.:
American Journal of Numismatics,
1887, October.
1888, January, July, October.
1889, April, July, October.
1890, January, April, July, October.
1891, “, “, “, “
1892, “, “, “, “
1893, January, April.
1895, October.
and I should be very thankful if you will point out a way of obtaining them. All other publications noted on the printed circular which you kindly forwarded are in the Library.
In making the above comparisons some deviations from your publications have been noted on our cards, and I shall gladly point them out to you. As you well know the work will have to be carefully done and will require considerable time and labor; but I will endeavor to give you from time to time such information as may be of use to you.
In regard to duplicates that you may have received through the Fisher and other collections, if you will send me a list of them, with prices, I will select such as are not in our collection to be submitted for purchase.
There was lately submitted to me a medal of Fortunius Licetus, 1577-1657- (see C.A. Rudolphi, 1829, No. 395, and Duisburg, 1862, No. XLVI, ) silver, claimed to be very rare, if not unique; but I hesistated to purchase on account of the price, $37.50. Is the medal as rare as represented?
Returning Dr. Frazer’s letter, I remain,
Very sincerely yours,
D.L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Army Medical Museum and Library.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Images from the weekly drawing class at NMHM, held Thursdays 12-1pm.Letter of the Day: October 22
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 971
October 22, 1895
Mr. R.P. Iddings
Lawrence, Mass.
Dear Sir:
In answer to your letter of the 16th inst., I would state that there is at this Museum among the slides of the late J.J. Woodward, U.S. Army, one which contains the Lord's prayer, written with a diamond, 227 letters, in a space of 1/294 x 1/441 of an inch, or the 1/129654 of a square inch. The legend on the slide says that this is at the rate of 29,431,458 letters to an inch, which is more than there are contained in eight bibles, each bible containing 3,566,480 letters.
Very respectfully,
Dr. L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Army Medical Museum and Library
October 22, 1895
Mr. R.P. Iddings
Lawrence, Mass.
Dear Sir:
In answer to your letter of the 16th inst., I would state that there is at this Museum among the slides of the late J.J. Woodward, U.S. Army, one which contains the Lord's prayer, written with a diamond, 227 letters, in a space of 1/294 x 1/441 of an inch, or the 1/129654 of a square inch. The legend on the slide says that this is at the rate of 29,431,458 letters to an inch, which is more than there are contained in eight bibles, each bible containing 3,566,480 letters.
Very respectfully,
Dr. L. Huntington
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Army Medical Museum and Library
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Letter of the Day: October 21
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1766
Fort Barrancas, Fla.
October 21st, 1896
Major Walter Reed
Dear Doctor,
Yours of October 16th with slide received. Am much obliged.
I send by todays [sic] mail sputa of two other patients, Mrs. U. Diffin + Mr. Diffin, will you have them examined + if bacilli are found send me slides.
With kindest regards I remain,
Very truly yours,
W.C Gorgas
Fort Barrancas, Fla.
October 21st, 1896
Major Walter Reed
Dear Doctor,
Yours of October 16th with slide received. Am much obliged.
I send by todays [sic] mail sputa of two other patients, Mrs. U. Diffin + Mr. Diffin, will you have them examined + if bacilli are found send me slides.
With kindest regards I remain,
Very truly yours,
W.C Gorgas
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
TODAY! "Resolution for the Missing: Bringing our Fallen Soldiers Home" features AFDIL, 10/20, 12pm, in the Museum!
| TODAY: SPECIAL SCIFEST PROGRAM! |
| |
| When: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. What: Have advances in DNA analysis made it so that our honored war dead will never again be labeled "unknown"? Come listen as a senior DNA analyst from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) shares her experiences working with scientists from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in positively identifying U.S. service members missing from past military conflicts. Suni Edson, assistant technical leader of the Mitochondrial DNA Section at AFDIL, will offer a rare look into the role DNA analysis plays in the process of scientific identification, and how advances in technology have increased the number of persons identified each year. Learn more about the USA Science and Engineering Festival at http://www.usasciencefestival.org/. Where: Russell Auditorium, Bldg 54, Walter Reed Army Medical Center Cost: Free! Bring your lunch! Questions? Call (202) 782-2673 or email nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil or visit the Museum on the web: http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum | ||
Letter of the Day: October 20
Smithsonian Institution,
Washington, D.C., Oct. 20 1870
Dear Sir:
In behalf of the Smithsonian Institution we acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of your favor or October 18th in regard to “a tin globe which formerly ornamented a flag staff + was struck by lightning” – the specimen itself has, also, been received and will be placed with other matter of a similar character for future reference.
Yours respectfully,
Joseph Henry,
Secretary Smithsonian Institution.
Dr. Geo. A Otis
Army Med Musm
DC
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Washington Post on modern military medicine
Military medics combine ultramodern and time-honored methods to save lives on the battlefield
By David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, October 17, 2010; 1:14 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/16/AR2010101602974.html
Letter of the Day: October 19
Fort Sisseton, D. T. [Dakota Territory]
October 19, 1880
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that I have this day turned over to the Post Quartermaster for transportation to the Army Medical Museum a box containing the pelvic bone of a mound builder (male) from a tumulus near this fort. These bones were found near the centre of the mound and about six feet three inches from its surface. No other human remains have I been able to discover. A few flint chips and a very peculiar heart shaped stone pierced with numerous small holes and a broken flint arrow head I found just beneath the surface of the mound. I have forwarded these articles to Professor Putnam of the Peabody Museum of American A & E [Archaeology and Ethnology] at Cambridge Mass.
over
The Port Quartermaster's receipt will be forwarded as soon as I can obtain it.
I am Sir
very respectfully
Your obdt [obedient] servant.
August Gecks
Hospital Steward, U. S. A. [United States Army]
October 19, 1880
Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that I have this day turned over to the Post Quartermaster for transportation to the Army Medical Museum a box containing the pelvic bone of a mound builder (male) from a tumulus near this fort. These bones were found near the centre of the mound and about six feet three inches from its surface. No other human remains have I been able to discover. A few flint chips and a very peculiar heart shaped stone pierced with numerous small holes and a broken flint arrow head I found just beneath the surface of the mound. I have forwarded these articles to Professor Putnam of the Peabody Museum of American A & E [Archaeology and Ethnology] at Cambridge Mass.
over
The Port Quartermaster's receipt will be forwarded as soon as I can obtain it.
I am Sir
very respectfully
Your obdt [obedient] servant.
August Gecks
Hospital Steward, U. S. A. [United States Army]
Monday, October 18, 2010
Quay Brothers visit the Mutter Museum
Animators Amok in a Curiosity Cabinet
By FRANZ LIDZ
New York Times October 17, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/17/movies/17quay.html
Letter of the Day: October 18
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 239
October 18, 1894
Colonel Charles H. Alden,
Assistant Surgeon General, U. S. Army.
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Colonel Alden:
Referring to your favor of October 18th, I will try to have everything in readiness for the Board on Wednesday morning.
As regards the memorandum of what I think will be the proper work, in my line, for the class at the Hospital Corps School, let me say that it will be necessarily very brief. I do not see what more I can do than try to impart to them some idea of the general principles of disinfection. I might also go into the subject of sterilization by heat, giving them practical demonstrations, that would certainly devote the greater part of my time to the matter of disinfection of the hands. It seems to me that this latter would be a most important thing for those who are expected to assist in antiseptic surgical work. They would then appreciate why it was necessary to have their hands thoroughly disinfected. This would, of course, necessitate the taking of cultures from the hands of the members of the class before and after disinfection, so that that could, by ocular demonstration, see very clearly what was obtained by careful washing and disinfection of the hands. I would also expect to tell them something about the disinfection of the steels.
I think I could cover this ground in four (4) lessons, in six (6) at the outside - each lesson to be of one hour's duration. Any time would suit me, provided the hour did not go after 3 p.m.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Major and Surgeon, U. S. Army.
October 18, 1894
Colonel Charles H. Alden,
Assistant Surgeon General, U. S. Army.
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Colonel Alden:
Referring to your favor of October 18th, I will try to have everything in readiness for the Board on Wednesday morning.
As regards the memorandum of what I think will be the proper work, in my line, for the class at the Hospital Corps School, let me say that it will be necessarily very brief. I do not see what more I can do than try to impart to them some idea of the general principles of disinfection. I might also go into the subject of sterilization by heat, giving them practical demonstrations, that would certainly devote the greater part of my time to the matter of disinfection of the hands. It seems to me that this latter would be a most important thing for those who are expected to assist in antiseptic surgical work. They would then appreciate why it was necessary to have their hands thoroughly disinfected. This would, of course, necessitate the taking of cultures from the hands of the members of the class before and after disinfection, so that that could, by ocular demonstration, see very clearly what was obtained by careful washing and disinfection of the hands. I would also expect to tell them something about the disinfection of the steels.
I think I could cover this ground in four (4) lessons, in six (6) at the outside - each lesson to be of one hour's duration. Any time would suit me, provided the hour did not go after 3 p.m.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Major and Surgeon, U. S. Army.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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
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
Saturday, October 16, 2010
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
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
Friday, October 15, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
concept design for anatomical specimen display
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.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, October 11, 2010
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