Early 1960s Civil Defense Medical Kits

The museum surfaced yesterday in 'John Kelly's Washington' in the Washington Post (November 23, 2010). The column mentions the transfer of a cache of Civil Defense medical kits to the museum from the U.S. Senate about a year ago. They were found by Heather Moore, photo historian at the Senate, in a storage space at the Russell Senate Office Building that was under renovation. The kits are assembled in cardboard boxes that, while dusty, remain in excellent condition.













Survival supplies furnished by Office of Civil Defense, Department of Defense, Medical Kit C, 300-325 Shelter Occupants [ca. 1963]

They at once are a fine complement to our Civil Defense and Cold War-era collections and also represent the interesting additions to the collection that are (re)discovered in one way or another. That medical material culture tucked away, hidden, and forgotten in rafters, attics, storage lockers and drawers.












Kelly's story, "No negative fallout from these shelters," is here:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/22/AR2010112206978.html

Dangers of dental radiation and medical technology in Times

Radiation Worries for Children in Dentists’ Chairs

November 22, 2010

By WALT BOGDANICH and JO CRAVEN McGINTY

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/us/23scan.html

 

Peek into the Archives: Contributed Photographs collection

The "Contributed Photographs" collection, as it came to be known, consists of photographs donated or contributed to the Museum.  Photographs arriving during and after the war were usually added to the Surgical Section and numbered like the bones were.  Many photographs were sent by doctors who wished to see their cases included in the History.  Doctors such as Reed Bontecou of Harewood Hospital in Washington, J.C. McKee of Lincoln General Hospital in Washington (who also provided surplus photographic equipment after the Museum's burglary), and J.H. Armsby of Ira Harris General Hospital in Albany, New York, contributed dozens of photographs at the end of the war.  They received photographs from the Museum in exchange.  Most of the photographs given to the Museum were albumen prints, but infrequently a tintype (a photograph printed on thin metal) was donated.  (Otis to Lyster, May 11, 1866)  Tintypes were never as popular as other photographs.  (Welling, p. 117)  Their dark background made medical subjects harder to see and reproduce in print. 

 

          Otis frequently wrote to surgeons requesting a photograph of a specific case which he would then have engraved for the History.  He also wrote to patients asking them to have their wound photographed.  Otis wrote to Charles Lapham, who had been with Co. K of the 1st Vermont Cavalry:

 

 

                   The interesting report of your case, which is recorded

          in this office, leads me to desire to possess if possible, a

          photograph which shall farther illustrate it.  The Surgeon

          General possesses photographs of a number of the very rare

          cases in which patients have survived after the very grave

          mutilation of the removal of both thighs, and has instructed

          me to request you to have a photograph prepared, the expense

          to be defrayed by this office.

                   It would be well to have two pictures taken: one

                   representing the stumps, the other the appearance with

          artificial limbs attached.

                   The photographer might take two or three prints of each

          to be retained by you, and then should forward the

          negatives, carefully packed to this office, by express,

          enclosing at the same time the bill for his services.

                   I enclose copies of a photograph of the size desired. 

          (Otis to Lapham, May 25, 1865)

 

Lapham had the work done and two photographs were added to the collection.

 

          Otis commissioned physicians such as E.D. Hudson of New York City to take photographs for him.  Writing to Hudson, Otis said "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 to 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."  In the same letter, Otis sent a list of soldiers who had survived the operation of the excision of their humerus.  Hudson, a maker of prosthetics, undoubtedly appreciated Otis' fulfilling his request for the names.  Otis and Hudson's arrangements to look out for each others interests, resulted in striking photographs such as the two of Columbus Rush, a young Confederate from Georgia who lost both legs. (Otis to Hudson, February 7, 1866)  Otis and Hudson cooperated so closely that Hudson was able to display his prosthetics in the Medical Department's exhibit at the Centennial fair.  (Otis to Hudson, March 8, 1876)

 

          For many years, these photographs received a Surgical Section number and were bound in volumes labeled Photographs of Surgical Cases. (Otis to Washburne, April 4, 1866)  The photographs donated to the Museum were often rephototographed to be included in the Surgical Photograph series.  Roland Ward's plastic surgery after the destruction of his lower jaw (SP 167-170, 186) is an example.  Columbus Rush's photograph, in which he demonstrates his Hudson-made artificial legs, was copied and sent out as part of the series.  Otis also purchased photographs from studios, buying "two dozen of the war views for the Museum" from E. & H.T. Anthony & Co.  (Otis to Anthony, September 25, 1865)

 

          Contributors of photographs like Hudson also used the pictures themselves.  Dr. Gurdon Buck is particularly noteworthy for his use of photographs.  He had engravings made of "before and after" photographs for his 1876 text on plastic surgery, Contributions to Reparative Surgery.  In the engravings, Buck used drawn lines to explain his operation.  Buck deposited a set of his photographs in the Army Medical Museum soon after the end of the war. 

 

          About 1876, as photographs of many sizes and from many people continued to arrive, the collection was removed from the Surgical Section and named the Contributed Photographs.  Otis no longer had the photographs bound in albums.  All of the photographs were renumbered from the beginning in red ink with the identifying "Cont. Photo." or the initials "C.P."⁶  Some of the best photographs were copied in the Museum and published as part of the Surgical Photograph series.  Others were engraved for the History.  Some photographs almost certainly taken by the Museum such as the one of Neil Wicks, probably by Bell,⁷ were added to the collection after the original negatives disappeared.  Unfortunately, many photographs were given away by Daniel Lamb in 1915 including scores to Reed Bontecou's son. 

 

---

6  These abbreviations never stood for "contract photograph" as has been surmised by earlier authors.

7 The photograph is listed in a logbook of Museum stereographs (MM 8797), p. 20, Curatorial Records: AMM Collection Logbooks, Box 18.

Letter of the Day: November 24

Mrs. Charles T. Sivers
R.D. No. 3
Oswego, New York

Oswego, New York
November 24, 1957

Mr. Robert W. Davis
Medical Museum of the Armed Forces
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Davis:

Since reading the enclosed article in the Oswego Palladium Times, I thought I would write to you to see if the museum would be interested in purchasing a great deal of material I have on Dr. Mary Walker.

I am a "picker" for antique dealers, and I have a collection of things that were owned by Dr. Mary Walker. I have such things as the family sampler, many of Dr. Mary's medical books with her autograph on the fly leaf, her brass name plate with which she had her cards printed, a journal kept by Dr. Mary's father about 1820, the "sit tub" in which she bathed, the suitcase she carried during the war, her albums of many of the Civil War generals and friends of Civil War days, and many, many personal items such as letters, invitations, etc. I also have some actual snap-shots in large sizes, taken of her as an old lady. There are many pictures of her as a young woman in the albums. I also have her scrap book which she kept about herself, made up of clippings about her taken from the papers of her time. They are pasted in one of her old medical record office books.

My price on the entire collection is three hundred dollars. If the museum is interested please write me and I will send a detailed list of the things I have.

My address is listed on this stationary.

Very truly yours,
(Sgd) Mrs. Charles T. Sivers

Adolph Cluss buildings and better ideas?

The Washington Examiner is reporting that an Adolph Cluss-designed building at 13th and K Sts, NW needs a new future. The DC government would like to turn the old Franklin School into a botique hotel while community advocates disagree.


NCP 3064 (OLD RED BRICK" - ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM BUILDING 1968, right before being demolished for the Hirschorn Museum.)

From 1887 to 1968, the Museum was in the Army Medical Museum & Library building (above) designed by Cluss. In 1971 it reopened at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Now the Center is being shut down due to BRAC. In Sept 2011, the Museum will move to Silver Spring/Forest Glen, MD. for the first time in its history, it will not be located in the District, and the building currently under construction is significantly smaller than the space the Museum currently occupies.

Hmmmm....

Letter of the Day: November 23

Medical Purveyor's Office,
Washington, D.C.
Nov. 23, 1863

Sir:

The confiscated Liquor on hand in this Dep't, has been ordered to be turned over to the Curator of the Army Medical Museum. I respectfully request that you state where the Liquor may be sent to?

Very Respectfully,
Your obdt. Servant

H. Johnson
M.S.K. U.S.A
and Actg. Med. Purveyor


[To]Surg. J.H. Brinton
U.S.A.
Curator of Nat. Med. Museum
Washington, D.C.

Letter of the Day: November 22

War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, D.C.
Nov. 22nd 1869

Sir:

I have the honor to report that the large Stereoscope in the Museum stall has become so disordered from constant use, as to require repairing.

Also, that one of the Thermometers was thrown down and broken, by Charles while washing the cases. He is commonly very careful.

I am, Sir, very respectfully,
Your obt. servant,
Rob't E. Williams Hospl. Steward
U.S. Army

Brt. Lt. Col. Geo. A. Otis,
Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Med. Museum

Letter of the Day: November 21

Post Hospital
Fort Sill, Ind. Ty.
Nov. 21st 1875

To The Surgeon General U.S. Army
Washington D.C.

Sir:

I would respectfully state that a citizen, Thomas Dougherty, died in hospital on the 13th inst. of Remittent Fever – the deceased was however of intemperate habits. This patient was found to have an ununited fracture of the right forearm of a number of years standing – both bones were fracture. No attempt at bony union has resulted, and free motion remains between the upper and lower fragments. As the specimen appears to be somewhat interesting, the forearm which has been preserved, will if desired be suitably packed and turned over to the Post Quartermaster for shipment to the Army Medical Museum.

Very respectfully
Your obt. servant
F.L. Town
Surgeon U.S. Army
Post Surgeon

Letter of the Day: November 20

Smithsonian Institution.
U.S. National Museum,
Washington City, Nov. 20, 1878

Sir:

In accordance with the arrangement between the Smithsonian Institution and the Army Medical Museum, I have the honor to transmit the collections mentioned below, the receipt of which please acknowledge.

Very respectfully, yours,

Spencer F Baird
Secretary S.I.

Ball of hair taken from stomach of cow. Received from E. P. Armistead, Newton, Newton Co., Mississippi

Letter of the Day: November 19

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 317

 

November 19, 1894

 

Dr. Judson Daland

319 S. 18^th St.

Philadelphia, Pa.

 

My Dear Doctor:

 

Can you give me any information concerning a centrifugal machine which is considered superior to the Litten centrifugal? Dr. Gray has just informed me that you are using a superior machine for urinary and blood analysis, and hence I write to ask you that you will be kind enough to enlighten me on this subject, especially as Surgeon General Sternberg is considering the matter of supplying certain of the larger military posts with the latest and most improved centrifugal apparatus.

 

Very sincerely yours,

 

Walter Reed

Major and Surgeon, U.S. Army,

Curator Army Medical Museum.

Letter of the Day: November 18 (2 of 2)

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 7132

 

November 18, 1903.

 

Mr. Henry Reens,

409 Fourth Ave.,

New York, N.Y.

 

Dear Sir:

 

In accordance with your request of the 17^th inst. 6 copies of printed circular of Museum photograph 177, recovery after fracture of the right ilium by a musket ball (from your own case), are herewith forwarded.

 

Very respectfully,

 

C.L. Heizmann

Col. Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.

In charge of Museum & Library Division

- note that he just asked for a copy of the label - not the photograph, which originally showed him nude. This version had a figleaf added for the 1876 Centennial fair. 1903 seems like a long time after the Civil War, but Reens was just 60 when he wrote in.

Letter of the Day: November 18 (1 of 2)

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01806

November 18, 1896

Dr. H. R. Storer,
Newport, R.I.

Dear Doctor:

We have lately added to our collection a few medals, some of which may be new to you:

Amsterdam Bot. Gardens: “Adest maximus.” etc, 57 mm. On rim: Hieronymus de Boach, H. F. H. N. natus Amstel. D. XXIII Mart. MDCCXL.

Galilei. Duisburg, p. 17, No. 44-5 – years in Roman.

Cholera 1854. “Au Dur Lepine.”

Haerten. Sanit. 1889, Vol. 22, p. 329, No. 992. On reverse “J.J. Putman,” not “J.G. Putman.”

Puhlmann. Sanit., 1893, Vol. 30, p. 250. No. 2071.

Pilet. Med. Major, 6 B de Ch. a P (Crimea, 1854.)

Boyer. Sanit., 1888, Vol. 21, p. 429, No. 707. – “1756” is not on reverse.

Belleteste. Duisburg, Suppl., 1863, p. 6, No. 250-4.

Thieullier, Sanit., 1889, Vol. 23, p. 445, No. 1166.

Acad. Roy. De Med., Paris, Louis Philippe I.

“ “ “ “ “ Louis XVIII de France.

Gassendi, Duisberg, p. 18, No. 55-1.

Buffon, “ “ 24, “ 144-1.

In Sanit., 1888, Vol. 21, p. 155, Nos. 626-628, you refer to Newmann, Beschreibung der bekanntesten Kupfermunzen Nos. 25635-6-7. Will you please send me a brief description of these three medals, as I have no copy of Newmann to refer to.

Very sincerely yours,

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

cp3006

Contributed Photograph #   3006

Name   MATTHEWS, WASHINGTON

Title or Subject   ASCERTAINING CAPACITY OF CRANIAL CAVITY BY MEANS OF WATER. USING INSUFFLATOR CHARGED WITH DRY POWDER TO DEFINE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. IN THIS AND THE OTHER PICTURES ARE SEEN VARIOUS APPLICANCES, SCALES, WEIGHTS, RESERVOIR, TUBE, STOPCOCK...

 

cp3008

Contributed Photograph #   3008

Title or Subject   TAKING COMPOSITE NEGATIVES OF SKULLS. PHOTOGRAPH NO. 4 - SHOWING EVERYTHING READY TO MAKE THE EXPOSURE. THE ANTERIOR AND MIDDLE FRAMES ARE LOWERED AND THE VELVET SCREEN HAS BEEN DROPPED.

 

Letter of the Day: November 17 (3 of 3)

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 7132

 

N.Y. Nov. 17. 03.

Geo. A. Otis. Esq.

Asst. Surgeon +c.

 

Dear Sir.

 

Will you be kind enough to forward to me at your earliest convenience 6 copies of Circular Photograph 177, Recovery after fracture of the right Ilium by a musket ball, +c. and oblige.

 

Very Respectfully,

Henry Reens.

Late Private Co. I.

30^th Regt. Mass. Vols.

 

409 4^th Avenue

N.Y. City. c/o. Wilson

Letter of the Day: November 17 (2 of 3)

10/17 [1863]

 

Doctor

 

A box containing a stone jar redolent of alcohol was left by the Express, at my house yesterday.

 

It evidently is intended for the Cabinet and not the Cuisine, please send for it.

 

JKB [Joseph K Barnes, the Surgeon General of the Army]

Letter of the Day: November 17 (1 of 3)

Scovill Manufacturing Company

423 Broome Street.

Direct All Communications On Business To The Company.

New York Nov. 17^th 1885

 

Copy.

 

Prof. A. Graham Bell

Washington D.C.

 

Dear Sir:-

 

Having seen in the N.Y. Tribune, a notice of a paper by Dr. Billings which was read by you at the meeting of the National Academy of Sciences at Albany, on the 10^th inst. on the Craniaphore used for taking composite photographs of skulls, +c we take the liberty to request that you will favor us with a copy of said paper for publication in The Photographic Times.

 

If you can thus oblige us, You will very much please

Yours Truly

R.S. Lewis.

Pr. E.R.

Letter of the Day: November 17

Post Hospital
Fort Duncan, Tex.
November 17th, 1875

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

General:
I have the honor to transmit herewith the receipt of one box, containing Pathological Specimens for the Army Medical Museum, turned over to Lieut. G. Valois, 9th law[?], A. A. of M. for transportation. The Specimens are one snake, one lizard, a few tarantulas, centipedes, etc.

Very respectfully
Your obd’t Servant

Donald Jackson
Asst. Surg. U.S.A.
Post Surgeon


Specimens received, acknowledged and turned over to sph. Surgeon J.J. Woodward, U.S.A. in charge of the section of Comparative Anatomy, Feb. 21, 1876

Exhibit Design Rendering By Navjeet Singh

Its a draft, I am working on populating the space now.
will post it soon.

Ciao

Deinstall of AAOS in Baltimore

Went up to Baltimore
with our exhibits manager (Pic right)and registrar(pic left) to deinstall the AAOS wounded in action
exhibit.  This is the lower gallery where we packed and cataloged the artwork. Here we are struggling
with a poorly packaged -- not crated -- artwork, the tatters that you see here was how it was sent to us, in a cardboard box, ...nonetheless I really enjoyed

designing this exhibit for this space, and hope to 

have shows there in the future. Thanks AAOS UMB.