An unofficial blog about the National Museum of Health and Medicine (nee the Army Medical Museum) in Silver Spring, MD. Visit for news about the museum, new projects, musing on the history of medicine and neat pictures.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
King Tut's serious medical problems
OTIS HISTORICAL ARCHIVES 2009 annual report
OTIS HISTORICAL ARCHIVES 2009 annual report
STAFF:
Michael Rhode, Chief Archivist
Kathleen Stocker, Assistant Archivist
(A) Jasmine High, Archives Technician
Donna Rose, IMC Supervisor Archivist
Amanda Montgomery, IMC Contract Archivist
Johanna Medlin, IMC Contract Archivist
Emilia Garvey, IMC Contract Archivist
LaFonda Burwell, IMC Contract Archives Technician
Karen West, IMC Contract Archives Technician
Anna Korosec, IMC Contract Archives Technician
(A) Erissa Mann, student volunteer
In fall 2006, archives staff began adding interesting photographs to Flickr's website. By late January 2008, approximately 400 photographs had gotten 48,000 views; in January 2009, 683 images had received 107,526 views, an increase of about 155%. On December 31, 2009, we wrapped up the year with slightly under a million views - 906,255 for approximately 1800 images. WRAMC continues to block access to Flickr so any additional photographs are added by staff from home. The Archives also received an invitation to join the Flickr Commons, a site for displaying the public photo collections of cultural institutions, which would increase viewership into the millions, but this has been waiting Legal Counsel's review for several years. A Repository for Bottled Monsters, an unofficial blog for the museum, continues to attract a worldwide audience. Because WRAMC blocks access to the blog, all posts to it are added by staff from home in their own time.
Research and historical material, mostly on military medicine, was provided to AFIP, especially the Public Affairs Office for which High in particular has pulled scores of photographs for a new history of the AFIP. External users were from Italy, Israel, Japan, Australia, Germany, and England and included the following institutions: University of Southern Alabama, Columbia University, National Naval Medical Center, Museum of Science and Industry, National Institutes of Health, Travel Channel, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Mutter Museum, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, US Department of Health and Human Services, Ritsumeikan University, National Museum of American History, Duke University, Simon Frasier University, University of Oxford, Temple University, New York State Museum, Branch Health Clinic, History Channel, Wesleyan University, National Institute for the Humanities, Cornell University, National Archives and Records Administration, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Stanford University, Wilmer Hale Law Library, Facts on File, Virginia Holocaust Museum, Baruch College, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Yale University, Dickinson College, MIT Press, Kyodo News Chiba Bureau, San Juan College, Kent State University, WETA, Virginia Historical Society, Harvard University, University of Maryland, National Geographic Society, University of Chicago, Oakland University, National Health Service (UK), Artificial Eye Clinic of Washington, DC, Royal Botanic Gardens, Scholastic Library Publishing, University of California -San Francisco, Enslow Educational Publishers, Hiroshima Peace Institute, Hiroshima City University, Providence Journal, Science Photo Library (UK), American Society of Nursing, Discovery Channel, Trover Health System, OAH Magazine of History, New York Times, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, National Museum of Natural History, University of Texas Health Science Center, Slack, Inc., Jefferson Community & Technical College, Victorian College of the Arts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTS
1. Interview by Alexis Madrigal for "Rare Trove of Army Medical Photos Heads to Flickr," Wired's Science blog (March 17, 2009): http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/medarchives.html; on the same topic see also "Bringing Hidden World War II Photos to the Masses," By Betsy Mason, http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/multimedia/2009/03/gallery_WWII_photos
2. On-camera interview by Wild Dream Films for "Death Mask," History Channel documentary on Abraham Lincoln, (interviewed February 6, aired October 26, 2009).
PRESENTATIONS
1. Stocker, K. "Luther Otken, Surgeon, American Expeditionary Forces," National Museum of Health and Medicine (June),
2. Rhode, M. "The Army Medical Museum in World War I,"American Association for the History of Medicine (April 24),
3. Rhode, M and JTH Connor. "Graphic Tales of Cancer in America," History of Science Society (November 22).
PUBLICATIONS
1. Pierce, J, M Rhode, K Stocker et. al. Walter Reed Army Medical Center Centennial: A Pictorial History, 1909-2009, Washington: Borden Institute, 2009.
Letter of the Day: February 17
This is one of a flurry of letters sent out on the 17th and 18th of February, 1868 on the same topic, but referring to different surgeries. “Form” letters went out on the 18th: a letter sent to a surgeon in Westchester, New York, followed with a notation that it was also sent to surgeons in Albany, Boston, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We’re thinking they were doing a push for the MSHWR and were trying to tie up loose ends, at least for the chapter on knees.
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington City, DC
February 17, 1868
Doctor:
I have read with extreme interest your report of a case of excision of the knee-joint in the Southern Medical and Surgical Journal. It is of such great importance to determine the value of this procedure in military surgery that I venture to take the liberty of writing to you to enquire farther particulars of the case, especially whether the officer still survives, and if his limb is useful still. Were the condyles of the femur interfered with, and, if not, did any disease of the cartilage supervene?
The Surgeon General has published some statistics of amputations and excisions of joints which I should be pleased to send you if have not seen them.
I am, Doctor,
Very respectfully yours,
George A. Otis
Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.
Dr. A.W. Bailey,
Barnwell Dist.
South Carolina.
FOREVER FORWARD WEBSITE LAUNCH!
Our researcher Mike Lemish, author of the just-published Forever Forward: K-9 Operations in Vietnam, announced his new website:
I am pleased to announce the launch of my new website (www.K9writer.com).
Besides the book I'm planning to include as much historical information as possible. Much of the site is under construction, but I hope you'll bookmark it and check back on a regular basis to see how it develops.
Thanks so much for all the support!
Best (ARF!)
Mike Lemish
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Letter of the Day: February 16 2 of 2
U.S.A. General Hospital
David’s Island, N.Y.
Feb 16th, 1863
Friend Brinton
I am working hard at histories of cases for you, and will be able by the latter part of this week to send you some specimens and detailed accounts. There being no particular hold on the A.A. Surgeons here, it is with difficulty that I can get them to make reports. Unfortunately the man who had charge of the dead house stole our specimens and sold them to Dr. James. R. Wood of New York, to whom I have written in regard to them, but have received no answer. Still I have a few interesting specimens and some interesting statistics of amputations and resections.
I suppose you have seen Dr. Simons in Washington. It is a perfect outrage that a man who has sacrificed so much should be so persecuted. I have been his intimate friend for the past six months, and can truly say that he is as perfectly loyal as you or I.
Don’t you want an assistant in preparing your museum and writing up statistics, etc? I should like very much to be on such duty and could probably take some labor off your should. Won’t you ask the Surgeon General if you think well of it, to detail me on that duty.
Truly yr. friend,
S.W. Gross
Surg. U.S.A.
Letter of the Day: February 16 1 of 2
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington
February 16, 1904
Private Julian W. Moody,
Hospital Corps, U.S.A.
(Through the Surgeon, Fort Monroe, Va.).
Sir
I have to acknowledge the receipt of a bottle of sputum containing tubercle bacilli, and thank you for sending it. This is material we can usually obtain in abundance. If you could send me, however, at any time specimens of blood showing quartan or aestivo-autumnal malarial parasites, pernicious or secondary anemia, eosinophilia or any marked pathological condition of the blood, I shall be very glad to have them.
Respectfully,
James Carroll
1st Lieut. Asst. Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum
Monday, February 15, 2010
Letter of the day: February 15
Washington
February 15 '70 (1870)
Dr. George A. Otis
Army Medical Museum,
Dear Sir,
I have the honor on behalf of this establishment to acknowledge the receipt of the two teeth mention in yours of February 5th and which have been transferred by the Medical Department of the U.S. Army to the Smithsonian Institution in accordance with the terms of an agreement, entered into, some time since, by these two establishments relative to an exchange of certain kinds of specimens.
Of the two teeth which are of those of Fossil horse, - the larger will bear the number 9826, the smaller 9827.
Very truly,
Your obdt servant,
Joseph Henry
Scty, Smith. Inst.
by D.L. [illegible]
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Letter of the Day: February 14
14 Feb. 1942
Secretary
American Medical Association
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Doctor:-
We have a very comprehensive collection of Medical Medals at this Museum and are endeavoring to add to it.
There was issued by your association sometime in 1914 a medal to Gen. William C. Gorgas. This medal is described and listed in Storer’s catalog of Medical Medals and was made by Tiffany Co., New York. As it was of gold it was the only one probably struck.
It is assumed that the dies are still in possession of the maker, Tiffany, or else were turned over to your office. In any event would it be possible to have a gilt bronze replica made for our collection?
So far as known this is the only medal of Gorgas and as he was our Surgeon General we feel that if possible this medal should be in our collection.
Any information concerning this will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Harry A. Davis
Maj. USA Ret.
Hist. Sect.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
NYTimes: New Rule on Cargo Is Shaking Art World
From The New York Times:
New Rule on Cargo Is Shaking Art World
Airport security screeners soon may be poking around Picassos in addition to sweaters and socks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/13/arts/design/13transport.html
Letter of the Day: February 13
Yonkers N.Y. Feb. 13th 1904
Surgeon General R.M. O’Reilly, U.S. Army
War Department, Washington D.C.
Dear General:
During the last thirty years I have made a collection of anatomical and pathological material consisting mostly of wax models in colors illustrating deformities of the nose, mouth, throat and chest. These have been made from casts taken from the subjects before and after operation.
The above collection I am considering presenting to the Army Medical Museum in case the museum would be pleased to receive the same.
Some months ago I was contemplating a visit to the museum when I hoped to have the pleasure of meeting you. Owing to illness my condition will not allow of it I will enclose a note of introduction from my friend Dr. J.S. Billings.
I will appreciate it if you will kindly advise me regarding the reception of the collection and the facilities you have for exhibiting the same. I will be pleased to give you detail information of the collection should you desire it.
Awaiting your reply, I am
Very respectfully yours
D.H. Goodwillie M.D.
per R
Dictated by Dr. Goodwillie
[A five-page list of models was in the file with the letter.]
Friday, February 12, 2010
A Day in the Life
Letter of the Day, February 12
I think we’d like to lay claim to anything Walter Reed (after all, where are we physically sited?) but his alma mater has a far more extensive and enviable collection.
February 12, 1900.
TO THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, U.S. Army
Sir:
In compliance with Circular dated War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, Washington, January 17, 1900, I have the honor to report that I am a graduate in medicine of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. and of Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City. I have no Academic Degree.
Very respectfully,
Walter Reed,
Major & Surgeon,
U.S. Army
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snow fears come true at Smithsonanian
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Letter of the Day to resume when snow ends
Monday, February 8, 2010
Letter of the day: February 8
Sat Feb 8th 1919
My dear Sister,
Your letter of Jan 11th & two bundles of papers came this week, the first mail I have had from you in two weeks.
We are still living here at Beau Desert in a ward doing nothing but hiking a little every day. However our gang plank list has gone in and we are on the sailing list, so expect to get away from here in the next few weeks.
There is not much sickness here – the flu seems to be over & just the wounded & usual run of cases come in. Thursday night a kerosene stove blew up in one of the wards over at 114 – about eleven thirty and the entire ward burned down in a very few minutes. It was full of patients all amputation cases but all were moved out safely. There was a hard wind blowing & the boys did good work in holding the fire to one ward[.] Two adjoining wards caught fire but were extinguished – only the tar paper roofing being burned.
Dr. Gardner[?] sailed this week for home, so guess he will be back in McComb before many weeks.
I wrote Charlie a couple of letters to Camp Leach that should have reached him by this time.
Several of our men have been detached from the unit this week & assigned to new jobs here in this section – I hope nothing like this will happen to me, I’m ready to go home now.
We are to take only twenty of our nurses home, the rest have to stay here on duty with these hospitals here.
Frances is being relieved from Evac. Hosp. #1 at Toul & will probably start for home in a few weeks – she will most likely go by way of Brest or St Nazaire. When she gets to New York will probably wire me at McComb & begin sending her letters there, so just hold them until you hear from me.
She has had very little work to do up there as the hospital is just about cleaned out. The com. officer there gave a party of the nurses a trip over to Verdun & and the battlefields in ambulances – they go to see all the battle front in that sector. That is about the only thing over here that I have missed that I would really like to see.
If the flu is raging over there it does look like they would get some of these Hospital units back and turn them loose lot of Drs. & nurses just killing time over here when they could be of so much use over there.
Am surprised to hear that Benton is back – doesn’t agree with what Henry Hesse told me – does it.
Hope the 1st of March will find us on the water. All take care of yourselves, expect to be with you soon. Much love to all.
Luther
Capt LB Otken
USBH 22,
APO 705 Am.E.F.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Letter of the Day #2: February 7
February 7, 1918
Dr. G.W. Remage,
Jennings, Louisiana
Dear Doctor Remage:
Permit me to thank you in behalf of the Surgeon General and of myself for the surgical case recently donated by you to this Museum which has just been received and placed on deposit here. We gratefully appreciate your thoughtful courtesy in this matter and the case has been carded as a gift from you.
Very sincerely,
W.O. Owen
Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army
Curator, A.M.M.
Letter of the Day #1: February 7
Surgeon General’s Office
Washington, D.C.
February 7, 1866
Dear Sir,
I am instructed by the Surgeon General to acknowledge your communication of the 25th ultimo, and to thank you for the nine (9) interesting photographs which accompanied it.
The Surgeon General has authorized me to give you the names of officers and soldiers who have recovered after undergoing the operation of excision of the head of the humerus and I have directed a list of such to be prepared.
In any future official publication with which I may be entrusted, I will carefully consider the subject of artificial limbs and the relative value of different apparatus, and I shall endeavor to do entire justice to inventors. Your claims in regard to apparatus for patients mutilated by the operations of Syme & Pirogoff, and by knee-joint amputations will not be overlooked.
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 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. The negatives should be sent, securely packed, by Harnden’s Express, directed to Major General J.K. Barnes, Surgeon General U.S. Army. (For Army Medical Museum.) The bills should be made out in triplicate on the enclosed forms.
I have directed a copy of Circular No: 6, of this office, containing reports on the materials available for a medical and surgical history of the rebellion to be sent to your address.
Very respectfully,
Your obedt. servant,
By order of the Surgeon General,
George A. Otis
Surgeon & Bvt. Lt. Colonel U.S. Vols.
Dr. E.D. Hudson,
Clinton Hall, Astor Place,
New York City
Saturday, February 6, 2010
MUSEUM IS CLOSED TODAY SAT FEB 6
Letter of the Day: February 6
February 6, 1902
Prof. B.E. Lischer, D.M.D.
2341a Russell Avenue,
St. Louis, Mo.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 3rd inst., in reference to a series of human teeth which Dr. A. H. Fuller, of your city, wishes to present to this Museum, has been referred to me for answer by the Surgeon General, U.S. Army
The Museum would prefer to receive these specimens properly tagged, but unmounted, so that they may be mounted and labeled here in uniformity with others, already in this collection.
Please have them carefully packed in a box marked Army Medical Museum, 7th and B Streets, S.W., Washington, D.C., and send them by express, freight charges to be paid here.
Thanking you for your considerate action in this matter, I am,
Very respectfully,
Calvin DeWitt
Col. & Asst. Surgeon General, U.S.A.
In charge of Museum & Library Division
Photographs of the series will be sent when the specimens have been mounted.