Michelle and Megan 12/09/10

Hi! It’s Michelle and Megan again. We are starting a project on the development and anomalies of the eye. So far we have researched how the eye develops.

The eye starts off as a tiny groove in the folds of the brain tissue. Later, as the folds become the forebrain, the groove turns into a bump, known as the optic vesicle. The optic vesicle is connected to the forebrain by a thin hollow tube, called the optic stalk, which allows the brain to send messages to the eye. The optic vesicle then comes into contact with a layer of the skin known as ectoderm. The ectoderm thickens and moves inward to form the lens vesicle. Meanwhile, the optic vesicle also moves inward to begin forming the two layers of the retina, which later join together. The lens vesicle then increases in length and small fibers are formed connecting the lens to the retina. The thin membrane that covers the lens disappears to provide communication between the two chambers of the eye. The cornea is formed by the combination of a layer of the ectoderm, stroma and epithelial layer. A groove in the back of the optic vesicle allows the hyaloid artery to enter the eye. Later, the hyaloid artery disappears leaving behind a hollow path known as the hyaloid canal, and the optic stalk’s walls grow from an increase in fibers turning the optic stalk into the optic nerve.

TODAY: Lunchtime Talk with Author Arthur Ainsberg

Lunchtime Talk with Author Arthur Ainsberg, “Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle”

December 9, 2010, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm


National Museum of Health and Medicine
6900 Georgia Avenue NW
Building 54 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Washington, DC 20307

In “Breakthrough,” authors Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg tell the true story of the invention of insulin, one of the most important medical advances of the 20th century. Ainsberg will talk about this fascinating tale of Nobel prize-winning research, and the brave little girl who risked everything for the groundbreaking experiment that saved not only her life but the lives of countless others.

Letter of the Day: December 9 [mystery diagnosis, part 2]

December 9, 1896

Lieut. P. C. Fauntleroy
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army,
Fort Niobrara, Neb.

Dear Doctor:

I have examined the two slides from the case of gonorrhoea referred to in your letter of December 2nd, and have been unable to discover either gonococcus [sic], or any other microorganism. I may say that this is the first time that I have ever examined urethral pus without finding some variety of bacteria present. There are, however, certain bodies with faintly stained protoplasm, and deeply stained round nuclei (with methylene blue), which do not appear to be any variety of leucocyte [sic] known to me. This body may contain from 1 to 5 deeply stained rounded masses. I am at quite a loss to say what these bodies are, unless they belong to some variety of animal parasite. I will, therefore ask you, if the patient is still under your care, to send me a half-dozen more cover slips made with urethral pus, and also a small quantity of his morning's urine. If you have any formaline I would suggest that you add about three drops of formaline to the urine so that it will not undergo decomposition in transit. I am curious to see whether I can find the same bodies in the sedimented urine.

Very sincerely yours,

Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator

Letter of the Day: December 8

Smithsonian Institution, Dec. 8, 1869.

 

Dr. Geo: A. Otis;

Army Medical Museum

 

Dear Sir:

 

A gentleman in New York has offered us a Series of valuable Indian relics provided we can obtain for him a collection of the “Photographs of injuries to bones, and other surgical illustrations,” prepared under the direction of the Army “Medical Museum.” If you can furnish us with such a collection you will place us under an obligation which we shall be happy to reciprocate, as the series of relics offered contains many objects that we earnestly desire to posses.

 

Your obdt. Servant

Joseph Henry

Secty Smithn. Instn.

Letter of the Day: December 7 ( 2 of 2)

A.M.M. 6579 Section I

 

Santa Fe, N.M.

December 7^th 1875

 

Surgeon General U.S.A.

Washington, D.C.

 

Sir:

 

I have the honor to inform you that I have this day delivered the remains of the hands of Srgt. Wm. Summers Co. “I” 15^th Infy, for the Army Medical Museum, to Capt. J. H. Belcher Asst Quarter-Master Santa Fe, N.M. for transportation.

 

Very Respectfully

Your obedient serant,

T.A. McParlin

Surgeon U.S.A.

Letter of the Day: December 7 (1 of 2)

Vicksburg, Miss.

Dec 7 1868

 

Dear Col.

 

I have collected more than three hundred specimens, some of which are valuable, while others, I fear, may be deemed quite worthless. The pottery is fragile and the skulls are exceedingly frail, and though I have packed these articles which much care I am unwilling to forward them to you as ordinary freight without first asking your advice. While some of them may go safe enough I feel that others should be intrusted (sic) to the care of an express agent.

 

The field of observation in this valey (sic) is exceedingly large and I find I have only just broken ground. I feel assured of being able to make many and very valuable discoveries even with the means at my disposal. I have thus far procured details of soldiers and have expended about eighteen dollars. I think I could use five hundred to advantage. The fifty has not been received.

 

Very Respectfully

Yours +c

Eben Swift

Surg U.S.A.

 

To Geo. A. Otis

Bt. Lt. Col. + A. Surg U.S.A.

Curator Army Med + Surg. Museum

Washington D.C.

Letter of the Day: December 6

U.S. Army General Hospital,

McKim’s Mansion, Baltimore, Dec 6 1862

 

Surgeon Brinton U.S.A.

 

Sir,

 

I send to day per Express a box of specimens (dry). I have but 2 wet specimens, and I will send them when I get enough to make it an object. Most, if not all the specimens from the National Hospital have no name attached to them by which to designate the operator. But in Dr. Bartholon’s [?] time he performed all the operations himself. The specimens for this hospital are by myself. Those for the other places are also appropriately marked. I waited for my boxes to mount the dry specimens, but as they did not arrive I was unwilling to keep you without the preparations any longer. I shall be pleased to take particular pains in the future to collect every specimen that can be collected. No history can be obtained relative to the bones contained in a single package from the National.

 

Very  respectfully,

Your obedient Servant,

Lavington Quick

Surg. U.S.A.

Letter of the Day: December 5

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1843

War Department,
Surgeon General’s Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum And Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.,
Washington, D.C., December 5, 1896.

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:

1 Bianchi’s Phonendoscope modified by Baruch, Est. cost. $5.00 to be paid for from the Museum appropriation.

Very respectfully,

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

Museum a fave of Get Religion and exhibit featured in military newspaper

December 3, 2010

Norman Rockwell and other blasphemies

Posted by Mollie, Get Religion.org December 3 2010

"Of all the Smithsonians, my favorites are the National Portrait Gallery and the National Museum of Health and Medicine (or as I call it, the Museum of Medical Oddities)."

We're not part of the Smithsonian, but otherwise, thanks Mollie.

Exhibits at Walter Reed examine the war on terrorism

By Chelsea Place Pentagram Staff Writer

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Letter of the Day: December 4

United States Engineer Office,
Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian,
Washington, D.C., Dec. 4th, 1874

Dr Geo. Otis U.S.A.

Dear Sir

May I trespass on your kindness + ask you to have prepared for me as soon as possible a list of the Crania + skeletons collected by this expedition [ie Wheeler’s] + forwarded to the “Museum.” I would like also the diameters of the Crania + mention of any anatomical peculiarities +c. If I remember aright there was one skeleton which showed evidence of Pott’s disease. I am about preparing a Catalogue of our Crania + require the desired information for this purpose.

Very Truly yours

H.C. Yarrow

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center that might have been

Here's a look at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center that might have been - all of these buildings were eventually built, oddly enough, between the 1920s and 1971. They looked different of course - let me know if there's any interest in the built versions.


REEVE 0002723
Army Medical Center. Army Medical Museum (sketch) proposed, ca 1917. [Architectural drawing.]


REEVE 0002897
Army Medical Center Chapel. Sketch (proposed). ca. World War 1


Reeve 003121A
Sketch of Army Medical School (proposed). Alaska Avenue Elevation. [Walter Reed General Hospital (Washington, D.C.). Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Architectural drawing.]


REEVE 0003146
Sketch of Army Medical Center. Nurses quarters training school. [Walter Reed General Hospital(Washington, D.C.). Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Architectural drawing.]

Letter of the Day: December 3

Fort Logan, Col.
Dec. 3rd 1896

My dear Doctor

I have recently made a number of examinations of the blood of a patient who has a peculiar form of fever, and think I have discovered the Plasmodium in every instance.

I send you by to-days mail, two slides satined Chinzinsky's method, which I wish you would kindly take a look at when you have the time, and let me know whether or not there are any Plasmodia to be sure.

Very sincerely yours,
R. W. Johnson

Ketcham and Hotchkiss' Navy cartoon posters from World War 2

Courtesy of the US Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the National Museum of Health and Medicine has scans of these Navy posters from World War 2.

One is by Dennis the Menace creator Hank Ketcham -



The rest are by Hotchkiss -

Michelle and Megan Blog 12/2/10

Hello! We hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday! Before the holiday, we moved around furniture and began alphabetizing books in preparation for HDAC’s move to its new location. It was tedious, but I am now extremely proud to be able to see what we have accomplished. We also experimented with drawing using watercolors. (This was for the FABER hour held every Thursday at noon). Our ‘task’ was to draw a skull. I found this challenging, and it took us a bit of time to get the hang of it, and we still have much to learn. We have gained a whole new level of respect for hand-drawn models!

Letter of the Day: December 2 [mystery diagnosis, part 1]

Fort Niobrara, Neb.
December 2nd, 1896

Major Walter Reed
Surgeon U.S. Army
Washington, D.C.

Dear Doctor:

I send you two slides from a gonorhoral [sic] case in which I have been unable to find either the active or latent form of the gonocaccus. I shall be very much obliged if you will take the trouble to examine them + let me know what is in there.

The patient had a severe attack of specific urethritis cystitis of which he was said to have been cured about six months ago. He denies exposure to specific contagion: says discharge began some two weeks ago after exposure to very severe weather on a trip to + from an Indian Reservation. The discharge has been continuous since his return.

Very respectfully,
P. C. Fauntleroy

Talk and Book Signing with Author of "Breakthrough" on the Discovery of Insulin--12/9, 12pm FREE !

 

 

Lunchtime Talk and Book Signing with Author of  "Breakthrough” on the Discovery of Insulin
	Lunchtime Talk and Book Signing with Author Arthur Ainsberg of "Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle"   When: Thursday, December 9, 2010, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.   What: In "Breakthrough," authors Thea Cooper and Arthur Ainsberg tell the true story of the invention of insulin, one of the most important medical advances of the 20th century. Ainsberg will talk about this fascinating tale of Nobel prize-winning research, and the brave little girl who risked everything for the groundbreaking experiment that saved not only her life but the lives of countless others.   Where: Russell Auditorium, in the Museum, Bldg 54 on WRAMC campus   Note: Books will be on sale in the lobby before and after the program ($25 each, cash or check only).  Proceeds to benefit the AFIP MWR.   Cost: FREE!   Questions? Call (202) 782-2673 or e-mail nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil

 

Letter of the Day: December 1

David’s Island N.Y. Harbor

Dec. 1. 1872

 

Sir,

 

Your communication of June 25^th 1872, requesting the pathological specimen in the case of Pvt. Burroughs Co F. 7^th Inf was not received until to day, it having been send to Fort Buford – thence misdirected to Fort Shaw, again forwarded to Fort Buford and finally sent from that post to me through the Surgeon-General’s Office.

 

In reply I would respectfully state that the pathological specimen in question, after having been dissected by Dr. Barbour and myself was retained some days while we endeavored to find a jar at once suitable for its preservation and safe transportation. The specimen being large we did not succeed and finally disposed of it by burying on the prairie at some distance from the post. It would now be impractical to recover it.

 

Very respectfully

Your Obedient servant

W. Matthews

Asst Surg. U.S. Army

 

Asst Surg Geo A. Otis. U.S.A.

Curator A.M.M.

Washington. D.C.

Letter of the Day: November 30

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01842

Dr. Jay Perkins,
78 Broad Street,
Providence, R.I.

Nov. 30, 1896

Dear Sir:-

In an editorial in the Journal of the Am. Med. Assoc. reference is made to work done by you in regard to the Serum Diagnosis of Typhoid fever. I am now working up this subject for a medical society here and if you have written any thing which has been printed on this subject in any medical journals or publication of the sort[?], would you be kind enough to give me references to them? Or if nothing has been published would it be troubling

[over]

you too much to give me your opinion as to the value of the test. Thanking you in advance for any attention given to this I remain

Yours truly,
Jay Perkins

To Dr. Walter Reed
U.S. Army

Evacuation in military medicine article in Wash Post

 

U.S. strategy for treating troops wounded in Afghanistan, Iraq: Keep them moving

By David Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, November 27, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/27/AR2010112702875.html

 

Museum collections continue to have relevance due to Dr. Taubenberger

Dr. Jeffrey Taubenberger was on the staff of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology when he did groundbreaking work on deducing the genetic code of influenza, using stored tissue samples collected by the Medical Museum in 1918. He’s gone back to one of those samples to make another exciting discovery.

Here’s the initial Wired story -

From 1918 Autopsy, A First Glimpse of Sickle Cell — and a Warning

• By Maryn McKenna
• November 15, 2010  | 
• http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/11/from-a-1918-autopsy-a-first-glimpse-of-sickle-cell-%E2%80%94%C2%A0and-a-warning/

 

-an NPR followup -

92 Years Later, A Sickle-Cell Surprise

by NPR Weekend Edition Sunday November 28, 2010

http://www.npr.org/2010/11/28/131644641/92-years-later-a-sickle-cell-surprise

 

-and finally the original short report –

 Sheng Z-M, Chertow DS, Morens D, Taubenberger J. Fatal 1918 pneumonia case complicated by erythrocyte sickling [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010 Dec; http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/16/12/pdfs/10-1376.pdf