[The venom of the Heterodon platirhinos (aka Eastern Hognose Snake, Puff Adder, Hissing Adder, Spreading Adder, Blow Viper, Hissing Sand Snake) is non-threatening to humans, but can cause a mild allergic reaction in some. According to the University of Florida "The Hognose Snake is renowned for its 'death feigning' behavior. When threatened, it flattens its head and neck and hisses loudly. It may strike, but only with its mouth closed. If it is further harassed, it will flip on its back and convulse for a short period and may defecate and regurgitate its food. It will then remain motionless with its belly up, mouth open, and tongue hanging out.[...] [Native Floridians] call the banded form of the Hognose Snake a "Puff Adder" and correctly believe it to be harmless. However, the black form of the Hognose Snake is called a "Spreading Adder" and is wrongly believed to be deadly. Another old myth says that the Hognose Snake can mix venom with its breath and is thus able to kill a person from a distance of twenty-five feet. In truth, its breath is harmless."]
Smithsonian Correspondence
United States National Museum
Under the Direction of
The Smithsonian Institution
Washington, May 18, 1883.
Surgeon General Charles H. Crane:
Medical Bureau,
War Department.
Dear Sir:
At the request of Dr. Henry G. Yarrow, Honorary Curator, Department of Reptiles, I have the pleasure to present herewith to the Army Medical Museum a specimen of a blowing viper, Heterodon platyrhinus [Heterodon platirhinos], having certain morbid growths upon different parts of its body. I enclose a copy of a memorandum sent to Dr. Yarrow by Dr. J.C. McConnell, relative to the nature of the pathological structure.
Your very respectfully,
Spencer Baird
Director: U.S. Nat'l Museum
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sickles' leg temporarily displayed on Army base
Civil War general's severed leg on display in Md.
Associated Press May 16 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP9fb30fddfb344009b59122a8cb0b72d1.html
Letter of the Day: May 17
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03882
May 17, 1899.
Mr. H. G. Johnson,
Lambertsville, N.J.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt, on the 16th inst., of a malformed duckling, and to thank you for this contribution to the Museum collection. The malformation consists in in [sic] there being but one socket and either but one eye or two eyes immediately side by side. There is also a corresponding malformation of the brain.
This Museum issues no publications, and I can, therefore, send you no printed description.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
May 17, 1899.
Mr. H. G. Johnson,
Lambertsville, N.J.
Dear Sir:
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt, on the 16th inst., of a malformed duckling, and to thank you for this contribution to the Museum collection. The malformation consists in in [sic] there being but one socket and either but one eye or two eyes immediately side by side. There is also a corresponding malformation of the brain.
This Museum issues no publications, and I can, therefore, send you no printed description.
Very respectfully,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 16
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 03883
May 16, 1899.
Chief Medical Officer
Army of
General:
I have the honor to request information upon the subject of the employment of trained female nurses, or nursing sisters, in the Army medical service under your control.
1st. Have you a small force of female nurses, or sisters, employed in time of peace, and a registry of those available in time of war? If employed in time of peace, how many? Are such nurses obtained through the agency of charitable societies, or such an association as that of the Red Cross, and under what rules as to length of service, payment, and subordination to military authority.
2nd. Whether employed in the general and large permanent hospitals only, or employed in the infirmaries and hospitals in the camps of instruction, or even in the field hospitals of troops not actively engaged in a campaign.
Should this information be included in any publication relating to the medical service which you have the honor to direct, will you be kind enough either to send such publications to this Library, for deposit, or to inform me where it can be obtained?
With an apology for any trouble which this request may give you, and asking your courtesy in the matter, I remain, General
Your obedient servant,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of Norway, Christiania, Norway
""" Mexican Army, Mexico, Mexico.
""" Belgian Army, Brussels, Belgium.
Director General, Army Med. Dept. Army of Great Britain, London, Eng.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of France, Paris, France.
""" of the Army of the German Empire, Berlin, Germany.
""" Army of the Austrian Empire, Vienna, Austria.
""" Army of Italy, Rome, Italy.
""" Russian Army, St. Petersburg, Russia.
""" Turkish Army, Constantinople, Turkey.
""" Army of Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.
""" Army of Greece, Athens, Greece.
May 16, 1899.
Chief Medical Officer
Army of
General:
I have the honor to request information upon the subject of the employment of trained female nurses, or nursing sisters, in the Army medical service under your control.
1st. Have you a small force of female nurses, or sisters, employed in time of peace, and a registry of those available in time of war? If employed in time of peace, how many? Are such nurses obtained through the agency of charitable societies, or such an association as that of the Red Cross, and under what rules as to length of service, payment, and subordination to military authority.
2nd. Whether employed in the general and large permanent hospitals only, or employed in the infirmaries and hospitals in the camps of instruction, or even in the field hospitals of troops not actively engaged in a campaign.
Should this information be included in any publication relating to the medical service which you have the honor to direct, will you be kind enough either to send such publications to this Library, for deposit, or to inform me where it can be obtained?
With an apology for any trouble which this request may give you, and asking your courtesy in the matter, I remain, General
Your obedient servant,
Dallas Bache
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
In charge of Museum & Library Division.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of Norway, Christiania, Norway
""" Mexican Army, Mexico, Mexico.
""" Belgian Army, Brussels, Belgium.
Director General, Army Med. Dept. Army of Great Britain, London, Eng.
Chief Med. Officer, Army of France, Paris, France.
""" of the Army of the German Empire, Berlin, Germany.
""" Army of the Austrian Empire, Vienna, Austria.
""" Army of Italy, Rome, Italy.
""" Russian Army, St. Petersburg, Russia.
""" Turkish Army, Constantinople, Turkey.
""" Army of Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland.
""" Army of Greece, Athens, Greece.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 15
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 15, 1902
Col. Calvin DeWitt
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Sir: I am directed by the Surgeon General to request that you will have the picture of Dr. John Morgan, now in the library, Surgeon General's Office, photographed, and send four copies to this office. Also of Drs. Shippen and Craik -- if the pictures of these officers are in your possession.
Very respectfully,
John Van R. Hoff
Lieut. Colonel, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 15, 1902
Col. Calvin DeWitt
Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Sir: I am directed by the Surgeon General to request that you will have the picture of Dr. John Morgan, now in the library, Surgeon General's Office, photographed, and send four copies to this office. Also of Drs. Shippen and Craik -- if the pictures of these officers are in your possession.
Very respectfully,
John Van R. Hoff
Lieut. Colonel, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 14
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 05920
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 14, 1908
Sally Rosenberg,
Frankfurt a/m
Scillerstrasse 18
Sir:
Referring to the letter of Michael von Lukacsich (Catalogue of 1901, p. 114, No. 2272) recently received from you, I would like to informed of the following points:
What was Lukacsich's connection with Heiligengeist Hospital?
Was he a graduated physician?
When did his death occur?
I should be pleased to receive the above information which is probably obtainable from the officers of the "Heiligengeist Hospital" of your city.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Surgeon General's Office
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 14, 1908
Sally Rosenberg,
Frankfurt a/m
Scillerstrasse 18
Sir:
Referring to the letter of Michael von Lukacsich (Catalogue of 1901, p. 114, No. 2272) recently received from you, I would like to informed of the following points:
What was Lukacsich's connection with Heiligengeist Hospital?
Was he a graduated physician?
When did his death occur?
I should be pleased to receive the above information which is probably obtainable from the officers of the "Heiligengeist Hospital" of your city.
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Friday, May 13, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 13
Curatorial Records: Incoming Correspondence
Post Hospital,
Fort Davis, Texas, May 13, 1881
Surgeon General USA
Washington, D.C.-Thro[sic] Medical Director Director Dept of Texas
General:
I have the honor to state that I have turned over to the quartermaster
at the post for transmission to the Army Medical Museum - one box -
containing a foetus of about 3 monthe growth delivered of a mule at this
station. The specimen was presented to me by First Lieutenant S.L.
Woodward 10th Calvary - who informed me that he was present at the
accouchment [sic] and that there could be no doubt about the facts in
the case.
The mother is a pack mule - age unknown belonging to Troop K 10th
Calvary - and the sire [word inserted] father a young Broncho Stallion -
which was allowed to run in the corral with the pack mules and had been
repeatedly noticed in attempts on this and other mules.
I have the honor to be
General
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
Harvey E. Brown
General U.S. Army
Letter of the Day: May 12
Curatorial Records: Incoming Correspondence
12th May 1885
Dr. Jno [sic] S. Billings,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Your favor of the 8th inst to hand.
Photonegative arrived at our office this A.M. broken into a number of
pieces the enclosed roughed-out will show how the box was broken, the
boards being so thin that the expressmen must have put something heavy
on it + thus broken it in.
We would advise bracing thus [illustration] brace mail on lip crosswise
in about center of box.
Please let us know what you will do i.e. are we to expect another
negative-
Hoping to hear from you-
We remain-
Yours very truly
Crosscup and West Engraving Company
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 11
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02215
May 11, 1897
Dr. Arthur A. Snyder
Corner 31st and N St. N.W.
Georgetown, D.C.
Dear Doctor:
I regret to inform you that it is impossible to make a diagnosis of the tumor of the testicle which was received April 30th at this Museum, for the reason that the structure is so completely necrotic as to fail to give any idea whatever of the original structure of the growth. The necrotic mass is surrounded by a much thickened tunica vaginalis, between which and the mass of the tumor there appears to be no connection whatever. It is one of the possibilities that this is a specimen of an old encapsulated abscess.
Sincerely yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.
May 11, 1897
Dr. Arthur A. Snyder
Corner 31st and N St. N.W.
Georgetown, D.C.
Dear Doctor:
I regret to inform you that it is impossible to make a diagnosis of the tumor of the testicle which was received April 30th at this Museum, for the reason that the structure is so completely necrotic as to fail to give any idea whatever of the original structure of the growth. The necrotic mass is surrounded by a much thickened tunica vaginalis, between which and the mass of the tumor there appears to be no connection whatever. It is one of the possibilities that this is a specimen of an old encapsulated abscess.
Sincerely yours,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
More Civil War soldier photographs added to Flickr
3 or so pictures continue to go up each day, including
CP 1220 Captain JW Force, 22nd US Colored Troops.
CP 1216 Confederate soldier Columbus Rush, 21st Georgia Volunteers
CP 1219 Corporal J.H. Jaxcox, 143rd New York Volunteers
CP 1220 Captain JW Force, 22nd US Colored Troops.
CP 1216 Confederate soldier Columbus Rush, 21st Georgia Volunteers
CP 1219 Corporal J.H. Jaxcox, 143rd New York Volunteers
PR: Visualizing Prosthetics research project at University of Maryland, Baltimore County
As requested -
UMBC anthropologist Seth Messinger recently began a new collaborative
arts-based research project exploring the everyday lived experiences of
people who wear prosthetics. An illustrated announcement is at
goo.gl/o4dRw <http://goo.gl/o4dRw> , and we invite you to post this on
the Bottled Monsters blog if you'd like, or to share it with your
colleagues
Letter of the Day: May 10
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 00649
Subject: Correction of check.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.,
Washington, D.C., May 10, 1895
Lieut. Colonel Thomas Wilson,
Asst. Commissary General of Subsistence,
Army Building,
New York.
Dear Sir:
I beg to return herewith check No. 76619 payable to the order of Augustus Tracy, Hospital Corps, U.S. Army. This check has been presented at the Treasury Department, and payment refused on account of the difference in the spelling of Private Tracey's name. Will you not therefore have another check issued. The proper spelling of his name is Tracey.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army.
Subject: Correction of check.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner 7th and B Streets S.W.,
Washington, D.C., May 10, 1895
Lieut. Colonel Thomas Wilson,
Asst. Commissary General of Subsistence,
Army Building,
New York.
Dear Sir:
I beg to return herewith check No. 76619 payable to the order of Augustus Tracy, Hospital Corps, U.S. Army. This check has been presented at the Treasury Department, and payment refused on account of the difference in the spelling of Private Tracey's name. Will you not therefore have another check issued. The proper spelling of his name is Tracey.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 9
Ft. Sanders, WY
May 9th 77
Dr. G.A. Otis, U.S.A.
Dear Dr.
I send to day this the Z.M. Department for the Museum a fine specimen of a Fish - believed to be a "salmon fontinalis". Should there be no fish in the museum please dispose of it to some of your friends at the Smithsonian.
In return for this unusually large specimen I beg to have a reply to the following queries -
(over)
in which several besides myself are interested
1. Is it a true "Salmon fontinalis"? If not please make the distinction?
2. Are there any specimens in the Smithsonian of greater size or weight.
I also invite attention to the fact that Bear Lake in Utah is a feeder of the Bear River + the latter empties into Great Salt Lake. The fish is therefore actually completely landlocked.
I will know soon whether it was caught in the river or lake - merely for sake of precision - I will notify you.
I will esteem it a favor if you will notify my brother of its arrival - his address is State Dept., Washington D.C.
With great regard
Very truly yours
B.A. Clements, U.S.A.
[Enclosed description]
Descriptive Memorandum of Specimen of Fish
The fish this day sent to the Army Museum was taken either in Bear River or Bear Lake Utah. I was shipped from Evanston U.P.R. Road in Laramie City Wyoming, where it was found on sale by me on May 7, 1877. Cleaned of its entrails + gills it weighed - before immersion in alcohol - exactly six pounds.
The color (before placed in alcohol) of the gill cores was a lake red - as if stained. Under the lower jaw a streak of a light brick red color: the spots were uniformly blank: the general color of a silvery grey, with deep red staining on the sides -
(over)
The weight of the entrails + gills is estimated at from 2 to 3 pounds.
B. A. Clements
Maj, U.S.A.
Fort Sanders WYS[?] [Wyoming]
May 9, 1877
May 9th 77
Dr. G.A. Otis, U.S.A.
Dear Dr.
I send to day this the Z.M. Department for the Museum a fine specimen of a Fish - believed to be a "salmon fontinalis". Should there be no fish in the museum please dispose of it to some of your friends at the Smithsonian.
In return for this unusually large specimen I beg to have a reply to the following queries -
(over)
in which several besides myself are interested
1. Is it a true "Salmon fontinalis"? If not please make the distinction?
2. Are there any specimens in the Smithsonian of greater size or weight.
I also invite attention to the fact that Bear Lake in Utah is a feeder of the Bear River + the latter empties into Great Salt Lake. The fish is therefore actually completely landlocked.
I will know soon whether it was caught in the river or lake - merely for sake of precision - I will notify you.
I will esteem it a favor if you will notify my brother of its arrival - his address is State Dept., Washington D.C.
With great regard
Very truly yours
B.A. Clements, U.S.A.
[Enclosed description]
Descriptive Memorandum of Specimen of Fish
The fish this day sent to the Army Museum was taken either in Bear River or Bear Lake Utah. I was shipped from Evanston U.P.R. Road in Laramie City Wyoming, where it was found on sale by me on May 7, 1877. Cleaned of its entrails + gills it weighed - before immersion in alcohol - exactly six pounds.
The color (before placed in alcohol) of the gill cores was a lake red - as if stained. Under the lower jaw a streak of a light brick red color: the spots were uniformly blank: the general color of a silvery grey, with deep red staining on the sides -
(over)
The weight of the entrails + gills is estimated at from 2 to 3 pounds.
B. A. Clements
Maj, U.S.A.
Fort Sanders WYS[?] [Wyoming]
May 9, 1877
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 8
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 04558
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S.Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 8, 1900.
The
Hon. William B. Allison,
U.S. Senate,
Chaiman of the Committee on Appropriations.
Sir:
I have the honor to request at your pleasure an audience before the Committee on Appropriations, a sub committee; or a member thereof having charge of the Civil Sundry Bill, with the view of explaining the extreme need of additional shelving for the Medical Library, known as the Surgeon General's.
The Surgeon General of the Army approves this request.
I am, Senator,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Alfred A. Woodhull
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
U.S.Army Medical Museum and Library,
Corner of 7th and B Streets S.W.
Washington, May 8, 1900.
The
Hon. William B. Allison,
U.S. Senate,
Chaiman of the Committee on Appropriations.
Sir:
I have the honor to request at your pleasure an audience before the Committee on Appropriations, a sub committee; or a member thereof having charge of the Civil Sundry Bill, with the view of explaining the extreme need of additional shelving for the Medical Library, known as the Surgeon General's.
The Surgeon General of the Army approves this request.
I am, Senator,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Alfred A. Woodhull
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Letter of the Day: May 7
Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 02235
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 7, 1897
Lieut. Colonel D.L. Huntington,
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum.
My dear Colonel:
It is understood that there is at the Museum a Greenleaf's travois with harness complete. If such is the case, the Surgeon General desires that you ship it by express addressed to Lieut. Colonel W. E. Waters, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army, Columbus Barracks, Columbus, Ohio. It is needed for the use of the approaching Military Surgeon's Association, and will be returned to the Museum after the meeting. Expressage both ways to be paid by the Association at Columbus.
If there is none on hand, please telephone me.
Very truly yours,
C.H. Alden
A.S.U.
[handwritten notation]
May 8, 1897, travois with harness and stretcher shipped by Adams Express.
War Department,
Surgeon General's Office,
Washington, May 7, 1897
Lieut. Colonel D.L. Huntington,
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army,
Army Medical Museum.
My dear Colonel:
It is understood that there is at the Museum a Greenleaf's travois with harness complete. If such is the case, the Surgeon General desires that you ship it by express addressed to Lieut. Colonel W. E. Waters, Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army, Columbus Barracks, Columbus, Ohio. It is needed for the use of the approaching Military Surgeon's Association, and will be returned to the Museum after the meeting. Expressage both ways to be paid by the Association at Columbus.
If there is none on hand, please telephone me.
Very truly yours,
C.H. Alden
A.S.U.
[handwritten notation]
May 8, 1897, travois with harness and stretcher shipped by Adams Express.
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