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.

Letter of the Day: November 16

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1801

 

November 16, 1890

 

Major A.A. DeLoffre,

Surgeon, U.S. Army,

Fort Logan, Colorado.

 

Dear Doctor:

 

In reply to your favor of November 12^th, I send by today’s mail a slide of the malarial parasite, tertian variety. I am afraid that this will not assist Dr. Johnson in diagnosing your cases of fever. It so happens that we have not at present any slides of the aestivo-autumnal organism, as I have been unable to procure any material of this kind during the present fall.

 

Regretting that I cannot send you slides of all the varieties of parasites, I am,

 

Very truly yours,

 

Walter Reed

Surgeon, U.S. Army,

Curator.

Letter of the Day: November 15

McPherson Barracks,

Atlanta, GA Nov. 15/78

 

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

Washington D.C.

 

Sir:

 

I have a female human foetus of four months with placenta and all in good condition, carefully presented in proof-spirit born two days ago. All packed ready to send to the A.M.M. if desirable. Do you want it. If so will send it at once with history.

 

Very respectfully

Your Obedt servt.

W.H. Forwood

Surgeon U.S.A.

Letter of the Day: November 14

Museum of the College of Physicians
Philadelphia Nov. 14 1868

Dear Sir

It would be a great convenience if you could now send on the specimen promised to the College in March last.

There is at present no work on hand and I am desirous of keeping my man employed in mounting preparations.

Very Truly
Th. Hewson Bache
Curator

Geo. A Otis MD
Asst Surgeon USA

Letter of the day, November 13

Not one letter but a series starting on today's date, negotiating the transfer of the bodies of her quintuplets to the Museum.


Kevil, Ky. Nov 13- 1915

President Woodrow Wilson
Dear sir
In the year of Our Lord 1896 I gave Birth to five Boy Babies on April the 29th but had the missfortune of loosing them all and was afraid to bury them for fear the grave would be robbed of there Boddies as there was such excitement over them[.] I had them embalmed and they are now In a mummyfied condition. and I wish to know if they would be any benefit to the Goverment for Educational Purposes I have any amount of afidavits which I can furnish with them to the face I don’t want to sell them but Will let them out on a limited time for a reasonable sum. My Husband and I Both are getting old and have lost all of our family but four and we both are In very Bad Health and will ask you If you can do any thing for us Please answer soon as possiable.

I am living at Kevil Ky R#4.
Mrs. O.D. Lyon.

----------
War Department,
Office of the Surgeon General,
Army Medical Museum and Library,
Washington.

No. 577.

November 19, 1915

Mrs. O.D. Lyon
Kevil, Ky.

Dear Madam:

Your letter addressed to the President, relative to the five boy babies to which you gave birth April 29, 1896, has been referred to this office.

The Army Medical Museum would like to have these specimens to add to its collection, provided they are in condition and would be desirable for exhibit; but they cannot be accepted as a loan.

Should you wish to donate them the Museum would be pleased to receive them and will give you credit for them; otherwise their purchase would be considered if you will inform us of the amount at which you would be willing to dispose of them.

But before further action in the matter, the Museum would like to obtain a statement from some reliable physician as to their condition and desirability, and it is suggested that some physician in Kevil be asked to examine and report to this office the condition and desirability of the specimens for exhibit in the collection of this Museum. Such a report from Dr. D.E. Burrows or Dr. Thos. E. Scott would be acceptable.

Very respectfully,
C.C. McCulloch, Jr.
Lt. Col. Medical Corps, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum.

----------
The statement from the physician:

Hospital College of Medicine
Louisville, Ky.
1898
Thomas E. Moss
Physician and Surgeon
Specialty: Diseases of Infancy and Childhood
Cumberland Phone, 12 ring 2
Home phone, No. 73, Kevil Exchange

Kevil, Ky. December, 5- 1915

1st Indorsement.
Respectfully returned to C.C. McCulloch Jr. Lt. Col. Medical Corps, U.S.A. Curator, Army Medical Museum with the information, as requested, that the five boy babies of Mrs. O.D. Lyon born April, 29th. 1896. are in a fair state of mummification and will, I believe, be a valuable addition to any museum. Any other information desired will be forwarded upon request.

[signed] Thomas E. Moss, M.D.

----------
Kevil Ky. Dec 6th 1915
C.C. McCulloch Jr
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir
If you think the Babies are desirable from the statement of the Dr and want to purchase them I will sell them for the consiteration of $1500. Fifteen hundred Dollars and If further Information be wanted I will be glad to furnish all I can-
Yours Truely
Mrs O.D. Lyon

----------
December 9, 1915
No. 584

Mrs. O.D. Lyon
Kevil, Ky.

Dear Madam:

Yours of 6th inst. enclosing statement of Dr. Moss, which is quite satisfactory, concerning the five babies to which you gave birth April 29, 1896, has been received. In reply you are informed that your proposition to dispose of them for $1500.00 is hereby declined.

Very respectfully,
C.C. McCulloch Jr.
Lt. Col. Medical Corps, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum.

----------
A note in the file:
Mrs Lyon might be told that the statement of Dr. Moss is quite satisfactory. However we think that her price is too low; that $15000.00 (ahem!) would be more appropriate[e.] All the same the museum cannot afford such prices and therefore is unable to further consider the purchase.

[signed] Lamb

---------------

Kevil Ky 12/13-1915

Mr C.C. McCulloch Jr
Dear Sir:
I am in receipt of yours of the 9th declining my proposition of $1500.00 for the disposal of the five babies. I thought my proposition a reasonable one for such a rare collection[.]
But I am willing to be reasonable and now ask you to make me a proposal.

Very respectfully yours
Mrs OD Lyon
Kevil Ky
Route #4

-------------

Kevil Ky Dec 29-1915

Mr C.C. McCulloch
Washington D.C.

Dear sir
In regard to your letter of the 15th I wish to ask If the appropriation Is so limited That you could not give me any thing what Ever for the Quintuptels. I had rather for them to be In the hands of the Goverment than any where else.for I know that they would be taken care of There. and would like to make a deal with you If possible.

I remain yours
Mrs O.D. Lyon.
R#4 Kevil Ky

-----------

Kevil Ky. 1/8-1915 [sic 1916 ERW 21 June 1979]

Mr. CC McCulloch Jr

Dear sir
In reply to yours of the 3rd I will say that I had much rather have the Credit of donating the Quintuplets than to sell them but I am not able to do so. I have had several offers to sell them for much more than your Price but never thought of selling them untill now and I had much rather for the Goverment to have them than any one else. For I might stand a chance to see them sometime then otherwise I would not. and I am unwilling to dispose of them to the Govenment for $200.00 which I think is little enough and If you except my proposition you can send me directions for preparing and shipping them to the Museum.
Yours very Truely
Mrs O.D. Lyon.

----------

Kevil Ky. Feb 12th 1916.

Mr C.C. McCulloch Jr

Dear sir
Replying to your of Jan 3rd I will say that I have decided to except your offer of $100.00 for the Quintuplets and you can send me directions for preparing and shipping them to the Museum
I remain yours Truly

Mrs. O.D. Lyon
R#4 Kevil Ky.

----------

Kevil Ky. Feb 28-1916
Curator. Army. Medical Museum
Washington D.C.

Dear sirs
In reply to yours of the 25th I will say that Each Infant was In a seperate sack with one afterbirth. There was no twins In my family or my Husbands. There was an Embalmer at Paducah Ky. that
Embalmed the Children but did not five satisfaction and I carried them to Nashville Tenn where they was Embalmed In a dry stage as they are now[.] I herewith Inclose Picture of afterbirth the only one I have[.]
Yours very Truely
Mrs O.D. Lyon

----------

Kevil Ky 11-16-1916

Mr CC McCulloch
Will you be so Kind as to let me here from the Lyon Quintuplets as I Study a bout them so much[.] My health is give down and that causes me to Study more than I would if I was well[.] Do they create much Interest among people and do you Know whether the President has seen them or not[.]
I have a curiosity to know

Very Respectfully
Mrs. OD Lyon

Basket weaving pictures on Flickr?

A lot of pictures of occupational and physical therapy via basket weaving in World War 1 are going up on our Flickr site right now because we had a comment asking for more photos from someone who had an ancestor who taught this at Walter Reed hospital.

 

Letter of the Day: November 12

Mangum, Green Co., Okla [Oklahoma]
Nov. 12th [18]94

Dr. John Billings
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir

I have in my possession a Skeleton of a man that was found in a cave in the mountain in the west part of this AV[?] found by Mr. Braidy a Lofer Wolf skinner.* The Skeleton looks to be about forty years old [sic] that is the man lost his life about forty years ago the bones are all sound as it was found in a very dry place found with it an old filint [Flint] Lock Rifle gun[,] five files, Sword and Several othe[r] trinkets – though some of the thing[s] greatly damaged by rust you can plainly see what they are

Judge Eastorr of Vernon Tex called on me to see the Skeleton and gun +c. and thinks it is the remains of one Col. Blacks [sic] party that started out in 1836 to explore this country all of this party were killed and captured by Indians save three only three returned to there [sic] Homes to tell there [sic] story

I am offered $10.00 for the outfit here but I want more I will box it up and ship it to you for $25.00

Awaiting your Answer

Respectfully
A.R. Wilson
Maugum, Okla

*The “loafer wolf” was also known as the Great Plains or “buffalo wolf” due to its enormous size and fearsome reputation. Early settlers in the west put a $10 bounty on the buffalo wolf and it was extinct by 1926. Wolf subspecies/taxonomy: canis lupus nubilus.

Armistice Day and Veteran's Day

Armistice Day was established in 1926 to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11 at 11 am - 11-11-11. In 1954, it became Veteran's Day.

You can see other World War I photographs on our Flickr site.

Letter of the Day: November 11 (1 of 2)

Surgeon General’s Office
Army Medical Museum
Washington D.C. Nov. 11” 1870.

Sir:

I have the honor to report that the following specimens in the Army Medical Museum are available for exchange with other Museums and Instititutions.

Illustrating Gunshot Injuries

Four illustrations of gunshot injuries of the shoulder joint.

Thirty four specimens of gunshot injuries of the shaft of humerus.

Fourteen specimens of gunshot injuries of the elbow joint.

Nineteen specimens of gunshot injuries of the forearm.

Six specimens of gunshot injuries of the carpal articulations and hand.

Sixty three specimens of gunshot injuries of the femur.

One hundred and twenty one specimens of injuries of the knee joint.

One hundred and seventeen specimens of gunshot injuries of the bones of the leg.

Sixty two specimens of gunshot injuries of the bones of the ankle and foot.

Twenty two leaden bullets

From Prof. William Gibson’s Cabinet.

Twenty two oil paintings.

Five femurs, three bones of the leg, and one humerus.

Anatomical.

Four preparations of the heart, purchased in Paris.

Miscellaneous.

Once Indian medicine drum and rattle.

One Assiniboine Indian rattle.

One deformed hoof.

Three entomological specimens.

Six specimens of Indian food, of which samples have been sent to the Agricultural Department, Smithsonian Institution, and to the Springfield Museum.

“A right boot, showing the wound of entrance and exit of a bullet passing nearly transversely through the middle of the foot”

I am sir,
Very respectfully
Your obedient servant,
E.T. Parker
Hospital Steward U.S.A.

Assistant Surgeon George A. Otis.
U.S. Army
Curator Army Medical Museum

Letter of the Day: November 11 (2 of 2)

Ward’s Natural Science Establishment,
College Avenue (opposite University),
Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 11 1884

Dr. John Billings, Washington.

Dear Sir,

I have for the past fortnight been greatly busy in packing and shipping 10 car-loads of specimens to the World’s Exposition at New Orleans.

And now I must follow them day after tomorrow, to stay there for six weeks, or until New Years. This leaves me no time to go through my stock and my late African acquisitions and pick out things which I can offer you.

I must request you to kindly wait on me for this until my return from the South, when I will give it prompt attention.

Respectfully yours

Henry A. Ward.

We have set aside for you the Elephant skull – to ship to you with other things later.

Megan and Michelle - New interns first blog post

Hello! Our names are Megan and Michelle. We are interns from Wootton High School working at NMHM in the Human Developmental Anatomy Center (HDAC). This past week, we have been scanning acetate models, which are beginning to decompose, into the computer in order to have digital copies of the images which can later be turned into 3D models. While we are here, we hope to learn more about defects and the formation of embryos, specifically the defects in eye development.

Image from Sadler TW. 2006. Langman's Medical Embryology, 10th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Letter of the day debate continues...

The game is afoot!

Since sending out my last update, I have heard back from several folks about what could have caused the muscular atrophy of our mystery patient. Some suggestions include sudden spinal injuries, early undiagnosed polio, or psychological conversion.

As many of you know, my background is in cultural studies from the Gilded Age, particularly concepts of masculinity. Initially I had also thought that our patient might be suffering from a psychological illness, especially as Dr. Leale made reference to “the insane.” Much of my own research has focused around neurasthenia, which had reached “epidemic” proportions in the US in the 1880s. It was discovered by George Beard in 1869 and was what we would consider extreme exhaustion. Men all over the United States were suffering severe, incapacitating physical and mental breakdowns (it was considered so characteristic of Americans that William James, Harvard professor and brother of Henry James, called it ‘Americanitis’). Most historians now believe that there were numerous cultural factors that led to this “epidemic”, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that most prominent Americans at the time deeply feared this mysterious mental and physical weakening of American men (this would in turn, they believed, weaken the country, making it susceptible to invasion, etc.). All this is by way of saying that though doctors did not understand the causes of mental illness at the time, they were certainly aware that it could have physical repercussions. I feel confident that the experts brought in on this particular case would have considered this possibility.

Also, while I do agree that unwanted marriage could have been a trigger for such a psychological reaction, I think in this case we do not know enough about the patient’s background to make a generalization that a marriage would have been formally or informally “arranged.”. The consultation of so many experts from this time suggests to me that 1) this was a relatively wealthy patient, and/or 2) that the patient’s condition was so unusual that it attracted medical attention. This is important because negotiations of marriage at this time depended very much on socio-economic status, class, race, and numerous other factors. Certain groups, what would have been termed “classes,” of people would certainly have been involved in more “arranged” marriages because of family reasons, religion, etc. But we just don’t know in this case.

The other possibility that occurred to me was that marriage might have been prevented because there was no possibility of consummating the marriage or having children. Depending on how the illness was presenting, doctors could have made this diagnosis. I can think of many circumstances where this would have led to the dissolution of an engagement.

Another follow-up

From Alan Hawk, Collections Manager in the Historical Division:

"The problem with your diagnosis is that spinal muscular atrophy shows up in infancy and most patients die within the first couple of years of his or her life.

A couple of possibilities.

1) This might be an early case of polio, which would account for the sudden onset and “abruptly prevented matrimony.” On the other hand it is a highly infectious disease so one would think that other doctors would have seen other examples of these symptoms.

2) This could also be a psychological conversion reaction. If the patient was severely depressed, he or she could have become paralyzed. That would account for the normal muscle tissue as there would be nothing physically wrong with the patient other than the fact that he or she convinced herself that he or she was paralyzed. The triggering event could have been either the upcoming matrimony or its ‘prevention’ as the bride and the groom frequently had little say in who they ultimately married. This would also explain why the patient was apparently the only case.

While doctors of the time would not been able to diagnose either case, Polio existed as a diagnosis since 1840, but it cause would be unknown until 1908. While depression was recognized as a disorder (melancholia) since ancient times, it wasn’t until the late twentieth century that it symptoms, causes and effects were understood. However, physicians of the time had a good grasp of anatomy and, if the muscle appeared normal, the spinal cord was the next logical place to look. It sounds like the doctors intuitively understood the problem was psychological."

A follow up: Today's letter of the day

It appears that Dr. Leale first contacted Dr. Huntington on October 17, 1883. He sent the doctor “a piece of the left gastrocnemius muscle taken from a patient having that very rare disease progressive muscular atrophy.” Leale had been the patient’s physician for six months and evidently the case had generated considerable interest in the medical community. Leale mentions consulting in excess of 11 prominent doctors who claimed they had never seen such a case. Because of the great interest in the case, Leale asked Huntington to do a microscopic examination done “to aid in the scientific investigation of one of the vexed unsolved problems on the pathology of muscular degeneration and perhaps the general paresis of the insane.”

Huntington wrote to Leale on October 20th, requesting a piece of the spinal column, to aid the investigation. On November 9, Huntington wrote to Leale with the results of the microscopic investigation. His letter:

November 9, 1883

Dear Sir:

The piece of the left gastrocnemius muscle removed from a patient suffering from progressive muscular atrophy has been examined under the microscope.

With the exception of a small inter deposit of adipose tissue and a slight increase of the cell elements of the interstitial tissue, the general appearance of the muscle was normal.

The change in the connective tissue had not yet proceeded sufficiently far to strangle the fibre, thereby producing atrophy, as the following measurements of six contiguous fibres will show:

.04, .031, .019, .031, .025, .038mm

The extreme measurements of normal fibre are stated to be .0113, .0563, mm.; therefore the measurements in the fibre before us come quite close to the mean.

It is to be regretted that a portion of the spinal cord was not preserved in which the lesion could probably have been shown more accurately.

Very respectfully,
You obed’t servt,
D.L. Huntington
Acting Surgeon General

Today’s letter of the day (November 10) is Dr. Leale’s reply. Given Dr. Huntington’s interest in the brain and spinal cord, my guess is that this patient had what we now know as spinal muscular atrophy, which I believe is genetic and was perhaps relatively new within the medical community (at least in the U.S.). Anyone out there who has any other ideas, feel free to let me know.

As for the “melancholy surroundings” and the “abruptly prevented matrimony” mentioned in Leale’s letter: Within the cultural parameters of the time, and without knowing too much about the patient, I can say generally that if this patient was female and the man she was marrying was financially secure and could afford medical care, it is possible they could have married (if her husband was willing to care for an “invalid wife”). If the patient was male it would be very unlikely, nearly unheard of, for him to marry, as he would be considered a “burden” to his wife and in death could leave her financially destitute, brokenhearted, etc. I don’t know the duration of this illness, after it first presents, but it is likely that when it did present in this case (possibly four years earlier), the parents of the patient or fiancée would have demanded an end to any engagement. I can imagine that doctor’s would not have known how long the patient would live and might have discouraged marriage for multiple reasons. When the patient lived for another four years, the parent(s) who encouraged or demanded the dissolution of the engagement might have regretted the decision.

Letter of the Day: November 10

C.A. Leale, M.D.
749 Fifth Avenue.
New York

D.L. Huntington, M.D.
A. Surgeon General, U.S.A

Dear Doctor

Please accept my sincere thanks for the microscopied examination report just received.

In this instance it was utterly impossible to secure the brain and spinal cord on account of the extremely melancholy surroundings. The death scene was very harrowing to the parent who four years ago abruptly prevented matrimony.

Very respectfully,
Your Obedt Servant

Charles A. Leale

Nov. 10, 1883

Letter of the Day: November 9 (2 of 2)

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1171

 

War Department,

Surgeon General’s Office,

Washington, Nov. 9, 1895.

 

My dear Doctor:-

 

I am not aware that anything has been done with reference to the souring of hams, to which you refer. It is an interesting subject of investigation and I shall be glad to know what results you arrive at. If you could send one of the hams by express to me I would have some investigations made in the laboratory at the Army Medical Museum in this city.

 

Very truly yours,

(Signed)  Geo. M. Sternberg.

 

Dr. W.T. White,

Kansas City Medical College,

Kansas City, Missouri.

 

Letter of the Day: November 9 (1 of 2)

Fort Wadsworth D.T.
Nov. 9th, 1868

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

General:
I have since my communication of the 5th uls. explored two Tumuli and obtained a few bones, very incomplete parts of a number of skeletons seventeen tibiae, twenty one femura etc, etc, but no crania. From one I obtained about a peck of decayed wood, which had been used in interring the bones. I propose to disinter the remains of a hostile Indian (Dakota) who died of syphilis while a prisoner during the “Outbrake” [sic]. I would respectfully inquire if you desire the specimens for the museum?

I have a “Medicine Bag,” (parflesh bag) the skin of an otter, which I purpose to contribute. I have been preparing a map, or rather designating the location of the tumula on the map of the reservation, which with a description of the location, from and structure of the mounds I shall forward hereafter.

May I inquire if the implements we shipped on the 5th ult. have reached you.

Very Respectfully
Your Obed’t Servt
A. J. Comfort

Von Hagens is selling the plastinated body, and BTW animals as home decorations on his site.

I think we should get the head, its only 30k.

Happy birthday, x-rays!

Google reminds us that today is the 115th anniversary of the history of x-rays. I know there are some interesting and disturbing images on the museum's flickr pages, many more than the two linked to here.

Letter of the Day: November 8

Ira Harris General Hospital
Albany, N.Y., Nov. 8th, 1865

Sir:

I have the honor to state that I have this day forwarded to your address, for the Army Medical Museum, a box containing an album of photographs of morbid specimens + necrosed bones removed from patients treated in this hospital.

Attached to each specimen is a descriptive label upon a card.

The views in the album are taken from a collection of several hundred in my possession, being chiefly photographs of specimens in the Museum of the Albany Medical College, and in private collections.

Resp. Your Obdt. Servt.,

J.H. Armsby
Asst. Surg. U.S.V.,
in charge

[To] Brig. Gen. J.K. Barnes
Surgeon General U.S.A.
Washington, D.C.

Letter of the Day: November 7

Ft. Concho, Texas
Nov. 7. 76.

My dear Sir-

I deferred replying to yr. last kind letter until some explorations, which I have undertaken, were concluded. I had discovered a number of ancient Indian graves 30 miles from Concho. I regret to say they proved to be too ancient. The remains having mostly crumbled away. After several days hard + dangerous work, I was only rewarded with a few fragmentary specimens which I will forward on a future occasion.

However, this is only one point. I have ascertained numerous localities, at no great distances, where I have little doubt of being more amply repaid for my exertions. It necessarily occupies time, having to leave the post for a day or two, which is not always feasible. Before Spring I trust you will concede I have done well. I know of several murderer’s and outlaws’ graves + propose sending some of their calvaria.

I wd [would] not have thus forwarded the Apache skeleton, but that it was so perfect. I dreaded an accident. Moreover any other method in Texas is slow and not remarkably safe.

More anon from,
Yrs. ever most truly,
J.H.T. King.

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

Letter of the Day: November 6

Washington, Nov. 6, 1875.

Dear Doctor

I spoke to you some time ago about making a selection of at least a single series of skulls, to represent the various tribes of aborigines of North America, for exhibition at the Centennial, either by the Army Medical Museum or by the National Museum.

I would like to hear from you to know whether you will make this display; as I consider it extremely important that the very large ethnological collection to be exhibited on that occasion, should be supplemented by the series in question.

We will gladly receive the specimens here, + be responsible for their safe return, + arrange to exhibit them under suitable circumstances, of course as the property of the Army Medical Museum.

Any other method will suit us equally well, only we hope the exhibition will be made. We are now unpacking a collection of about 300 crania from the vicinity of Santa Barbara + the adjacent islands – a most magnificent series of specimens, + we would be glad to have you come over + look at them + see whether you wish them turned over to the Army Medical Museum, + whether you have space for their accommodation. Many more are yet due.

Yours truly,
Spencer F Baird

Dr. Otis,
Army Medical Museum,
Washington, D.C.

Walter Reed medical center and Army Medical School cartoon

Reeve 43604

Army Medical School, Walter Reed Hospital, Officer of the Day. [Illustration. Cartoon.]

 

This cartoon is  almost incomprehensible to us now, so I’ll do a quick read of what I think it means. The Walter Reed medical center baby is trying to reach a toy labeled for the Army Medical School Officer of the Day – implying I think that the hospital base wanted administrative control over the medical school, which had moved onto the campus in 1907. The school eventually became the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and will be our neighbor when we move up to Forest Glen, Md next year.

Letter of the Day: November 5

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1171

 

Kansas City Medical College

Kansas City, MO., Nov 5” 1895

 

Dr Geo M Sternberg

Washington D.C.

 

Dear Sir:-

 

Your communication at hand I would have been willing to acted as partner in your laboratory but since thee is no opening of any kind, I can only thank you and say I am sorry.

 

I am now trying to investigate the cause of “hog hams souring” Swift + Co one of our packers looses (sic) about $8000\00 per annum and I am quite sure it is due to bacterial origin. I have worked two weeks without making much headway and have six weeks left until I make a report. If you will kindly express me any literature on the subject I will take excellent care thereof, and return at your pleasure + my expense.  Hoping you can help me I am yours very truly

 

WT White

17 + Bellview

K.C. Mo

Post on medic's gear

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/a-heavy-burden-graphic/index.html?sid=ST2010110104926

Letter of the Day: November 4 [Criminal edition, part 2]

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01779

November 4, 1896

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

General:

The Museum has a specimen of excised testicle from a military convict, John J. Moore, who was admitted to the hospital at Alcatraz Island, California, November 25, 1892, with subacute orchitis; testicle excised December 7; Discharged from Hospital December 22, 1892.

It would be interesting in connection with the specimen to learn the history of the patient subsequent to his discharge from the Hospital on December 22, 1892, and I would therefore respectfully request that an inquiry be made at the Adjutant General’s Office for such late data as may be on record in the case of Moore.

Very respectfully,
D.L. Huntington

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

Letter of the Day: November 4 [Criminal edition, part 1]

Headquarters, Post of Waco
Waco, Texas, November 4th 1869

My dear General:

General Reynolds and I arrived here safely last evening after a pleasant ride of two days, and today been busy in inspecting this post and enjoying the hospitalities of the citizens. We shall probably return to Austin day after tomorrow.

I write to ask you whether you would like to have me send to the Army Medical Museum, a novel specimen. It is the head of Bickerstaff, the most notorious of all Texan desperados. It is admirably preserved in alcohol, and can be sent to Washington in that state, if you desire. If you do not wish to preserve it in that state after arrival, you can have it dissected, and put the cranium in the museum as a typical representation of a Texas desperado. Bickerstaff, the head of an organized set of murders, was the terror of Northern Texas for a long time, successfully defying and eluding the civil and military authorities. His head was sent to this place for securing the reward for his capture.

Sincerely your friend,
Warren Webster
[To] Gen. C. H. Crane, &c. &c.

Letter of the Day: November 3

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 01782

Dr. H.L.E. Johnson
Washington, DC
Nov. 3rd, 1896

DR. Walter Reed,
Surgeon U.S. Army, Curator
Army Medical Museum

My Dear Dr. Reed:

I enclose the report which you sent me last Jany. [January] to call up the circumstances and also a similar specimen in alcohol, passed yesterday by the same patient. Would you kindly tell me the nature of this specimen. I operated upon this patient for appendicitis, evacuating a very large abscess, on the 28th. ult. I intend reading a paper on appendicitis at the Congress in Mexico, including this and other cases and if it is perfectly convenient to you and meets your approval, I wish to incorporate this last report in my paper. I expect to start for Mexico on Sunday the 8th. inst.

Thanking you for this and other favors,
I am,
Faithfully yours,

H.L.E. Johnson

(Dictated.)

Natural history of plague revealed

October 31, 2010

Europe's Plagues Came From China, Study Finds

By NICHOLAS WADE

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/health/01plague.html

Letter of the Day: November 2

War Department
Surgeon General's Office
Property Division
Washington, DC

November 2nd, 1885

Maj, J. S. Billings, Surgeon, U.S.A.
Curator Army Medical Museum
Washington, DC

Major:

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th inst. forwarding two hundred and sixty (260) Esmarch's triangular bandages found in a storeroom at the Museum.

By order of the Surgeon General.

JH Baxter
Chief Medical Purveyor,
U.S.Army

Letter of the Day: November 1

Fort Ridgely, Minnesota,
November 1st 1862

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the curator of the Army Medical Museum, under date of October 15th, 62, acknowledging the receipt of an Indian arrow head and requesting me to procure further specimens etc.

I have already collected some specimens referred to in his letter and shall continue to make further collections as opportunity shall present. Articles of Indian warfare (including both new and old shotguns), captured by our troops from the Indians, have been delivered at this Post and gone into the custody of the proper Army Officer, some of them, in my judgement, would be proper to be secured for the Army Medical Museum.

If you would obtain an order from the War-Department, directing the Commander of this post or other Officer in Charge of these "trophies," to allow me to select from them such articles as I might deem proper, for the purposes of sending them to the Army Medical Museum, I would with pleasure do so.

Very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
Alfred Muller
Act. Asst. Surgeon

[To] Brig'd General Wm. A. Hammond
Surgeon General, U.S. Army
Washington, D.C.

Washington Post on military medicine advances

Another good article - Operation damage control
By David Brown
Washington Post October 30, 2010

Letter of the Day: October 31

Army Medical School
Royal Victoria Hospital,
Netley 31st Oct. 1865

To Surgeon General Barnes
United States Army

Dear General

I think I must be indebted to your consideration + kindness for a portfolio of 30 large illustrations, photographed at the Army Medical Museum at Washington, which I received a short time since by railway from Liverpool. The parcel did not contain a letter, + the cover simply bore the words “courtesy of Dr. Haight,’ to whom, no address being given, I have been unable to write my acknowledgements of its safe receipt. I have been greatly interested in the drawings – many of them illustrate cases of great scientific value as well as of great credit to the operator, while all of them are of subjects calculated to be useful as affording material for thought + instruction on military injuries. Your Museum must indeed be rich in specimens of the effects of gunshot wounds, judging from the examples photographed in the collection of drawings I have received. I thank you very sincerely for giving me the opportunity of seeing those which are now in my possession, + I feel that the profession at large in Europe is indebted to you for giving to it the means of studying some portions of your museum at Washington, by such photographs, notwithstanding the distance which divides us from it.

I take the opportunity by this communication of transmitting to you a report on the effect on health of the present system in England, + elsewhere in Europe, of carrying the knapsack, kit, and accoutrements by soldiers. The report, though printed, is not published, - a certain number of copies only being circulated among those who have been engaged in or connected with the enquiries to which the report refers. I should feel obliged if no public use of the report is made. I mean reference in public prints. I send it on account fo the importance of the questions involved, + in the belief that the questions are of such a nature that you will feel an interest in them. The recommendations of the Committee in p. 11 are to be carried out, + I hope that the trials may lead to much good.

I also enclose one or two reprints from the 5th Vol. of the Army Medical Reports. I hope you have also received the volume itself.

I am
Very faithfully yours
Tho. Longmore

Letter of the Day: October 30

Post Surgeon’s Office
Fort Laramie Wyo. Ter.
30th October 1879.

Dr. Doctor –

A specimen of the Canadian Porcupine, Hystrix Hudsonius of Brisson, an animal that is becoming rarer every year in this country, was procured near this post several days ago, and having been engaging in making skeletons for the past year, of birds and not a few animals, I prepared this animal for the Museum of Comparative Anatomy, and send it to you by this mail. I did not mount it, not having the conveniences and the liability of its being injured in that condition during its transportation, but have been careful to leave the following guides for the workman,

1. The vertebrae are on a string in their proper order:-
2. The ribs are sewed to paper to show their arrangement:-
3. The first rib of right side is left attached to its vertebra, so there will be no doubt as to its proper faces[?] and where ribs commence,
4. The carpus and four toes of right foot left sufficiently in site for a guide to put fellow of apposite side together, same for tarsus and five toes of right hind foot.
5. Patella of left side shows its position.
6. Caudal vertebrae left attached. By accident some of their haemal spines were removed but are sent in package.

I have on hand in addition 15 duplicate skeletons of birds, several specimens of morbid anatomy, united fractures, parasites, etc. and would be glad to learn in what manner they should be prepared in order that they would be considered most valuable and acceptable.

Very respectfully + sincerely yrs,
R.W. Shufeldt
1 Lt+ A. Surgeon U.S.A.
Post Surgeon

Lt. Col. Geo. A. Otis.
Med. Dept. U.S. Army.
Washington D.C.

Received by mail November 8, 1879., and ack. and turned over with copy of letter to Dr. Woodward same day as received.

Letter of the Day: October 29

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 00269

October 29, 1894

Mr. William Snowden,
1107 Walnut St.,
Philadelphia, Pa.

Dear Sir:

If you have an illustration or description of the Reeve's flexible stretcher, will you have the kindness to send me a copy.

This Museum has a number of stretchers of different patterns, and should you desire to donate a sample of the Reeve's stretcher I shall be pleased to place it on exhibition in this collection, giving you due credit as donor.

Very respectfully,

J.S. Billings
Deputy Surgeon General, U.S. Army

Letter of the Day: October 28

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 00985

October 28, 1895

Dr. Charles G. Stone
Brightwood, D.C.

Dear Doctor:

About three weeks ago I sent a messenger, as requested by you, to procure water from Mrs. Page's well at Takoma Park. The water was received in two sterilized flasks, and brought at once to the Laboratory, where it was not only promptly plated, but ten different specimens of the water were subjected to Parietti's test for the typhoid organism. Since that time we have carefully followed out the identification of all colonies appearing; and I am compelled to report to you that this examination not only does not show the presence of any typhoid bacilli, but we have not perceived any colonies of colon bacilli.

Very respectfully,

Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator.

DCist Photo of the Day - NMHM skeletons

http://dcist.com/2010/10/photo_of_the_day_october_27_2010.php


Though they certainly aren't spooky.

Letter of the Day: October 27

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 1766

October 27, 1896

Captain W. C. Gorgas
Assistant Surgeon, U. S. Army,
Fort Barrancas, Florida

Dear Doctor:

The sputa of the two patients, Mr. and Mrs. Diffin, forwarded by you on October 21st, has been received and examined, and tubercle bacilli found in both specimens.

Slides have been forwarded to you as requested, by mail, under separate cover.

Very sincerely yours,

Walter Reed
Surgeon, U.S. Army,
Curator

Letter of the Day: October 26

Department of the Interior
Census Office
Washington, D.C.
October 26, 1891

Dear Sir:

In response to your verbal request, I beg leave to say that the figures given below, representing the total number of veterans returned to this office for the country at large, and for the states of Ohio and Massachusetts, are somewhat better than an approximation. For all practical purposes they are accurate, the actual number probably being slightly in the excess.

Veterans of Civil War returned for United States, 1,076,162
" " " " " " Ohio, 106,328
'' " " " " " Massachusetts, 39, 996

With reference to your inquiry as to what would be shown in regard to families and dwellings, I omitted to say that in addition to showing them in detail by wards of the one hundred and twenty-four (124) principal cities, --or down to the limit of twenty-five thousand (25,000),--and countries, they will be shown for the totals of cities of eight thousand (8,000) or more inhabitants. This is now the intention and the plan will not be altered materially.

For those cities which we are furnishing you population data by sanitary districts, do you wish the totals of families and dwellings for wards, or do you want them in the detail of size and number developed in the count?

Very respectfully,
Howard Sutherland
Chief of Fourth Division.

Dr. John S. Billings, U.S.A.,
Army and Medical Museum
Washington, D.C.

Letter of the Day: October 25

Office of F.W. Langdon,
No. 65 West Seventh St.

Cincinnati, Oct. 25th 1883

Dear Doctor:

In compliance with your request of the 20th inst, I mail you herewith a full set of the reprints of the publications of the Literary Society of Madisonville, in reference to the prehistoric cemetery near that place. These papers are reprints, the originals of which appeared in the "Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History" as indicated below.--

Part I. --appeared in Vol. III - April 188- pp. 40-68
Part II.-- '' '' " - July 1880 pp. 128-139
Part III.-- '' '' " - Oct. 1880 pp. 203-220
Part IV.-- '' '' IV - Oct. 1881 pp. 237-257

I shall be very glad to receive any photos of specimens that you may be pleased to send, especially those of an ethnological or archaeological character.

If I can be of any further service to the Museum, please consider my time at your disposal.

I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your obedt [obedient] servant

F.W. Langdon, M.D.

To
Dr. D. L. Huntington, U.S.A.
Curator Army Med. Museum
Washington D.C.

NMHM takes part of Scifest at the National Mall Washington DC

Heres some pics of the event a good time was had by most!

enjoy, navjeet

Letter of the Day: October 24

Lima Peru Oct 24th 1888

Dr. J.S. Billings
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir-

Confirming my letter to you of the 10th inst. I am since in receipt of your communication, dated Sept 11th ult. I think you will find in my * last shipment what you desire. I took the precaution to carefully wrap up two skulls with the Hyoid bone adhering; also a skull cut in two with one joint of the hyoid bone still in its place. I would not have recognised (sic) the bone by the drawing you sent me as they do not occur in that shape with the Peruvians but as a general thing they are shorter than the specimens I have sent you. I have always taken an interest when examining skulls and digging up mummies to look for this bone but it is surprising how often they fail to exist. It seems that in some cadavers they must have decayed in the first process of decomposition. I shall however give myself more pains in any future expeditions to look more carefull (sic) into the matter and gather the different sizes of both you and old to make a proper comparison.

Truly Yours

Geo Kiefer

*Received Nov. 10, 1888.
A.M.M. Nos. 2977-2995 Anat. Sect.

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.

Faber Hour 10/21

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

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

TODAY! "Resolution for the Missing: Bringing our Fallen Soldiers Home" features AFDIL, 10/20, 12pm, in the Museum!

TODAY: SPECIAL SCIFEST PROGRAM! Brown Bag Lunch: "Resolution for the Missing: Bringing our Fallen Soldiers Home"
	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 18^th 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

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]

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.

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

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

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.

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

concept design for anatomical specimen display

concept design Navjeet Singh 2010
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.

 

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.

Romare Bearden mosaic

DIA

More DIA

Letter of the Day: October 11

No 201 W. Franklin St
Baltimore Oct: 11 1887

Surgeon J.S. Billings U.S.A.

My dear Doctor

Having had remarkable success with a recent artificial crystallization of Cystine I send by present mail a new slide of the beautiful but very rare substance.

It was obtained from a lady who had septicemia after a 6 month’s miscarriage, although there can be no relation of causation in its pathological state.

Hoping that you are well – and thanking you for vol. VIII of Index I remain

Yours very sincerely
Christopher Johnston

Detroit Institute of the Arts

spent the afternoon with my son at the DIA

8 bucks lets you see some great antiquities, paintings,

sculptures, tapestries, murals by Diego Rivera

and a plethora of African American art

one of my favorite works by Romare Bearden

a huge mosaic 15 feet x 12 was amazing.

DIA museum

Letter of the Day: October 10

Curatorial Records: Numbered Correspondence 959

Pension Bureau, Oct. 10 1895

Doctor C.H. Alden,
Asst. Surg. General,

Dear Doctor:

This will introduce to you Doctor D. M. McPherson of this Bureau. The doctor brings to you a substance found in a lung upon post mortem. It is claimed that this substance is the remains of a bullet, + the admission of the widow’s claim turns upon this point.

We have made no examination of the substance for the reason that an examination by someone outside of the official force of the Bureau will carry much more weight. Can I ask you to request someone to test this substance for lead and write a little certificate as to results of tests. If the substance is not lead, we would be glad to learn what it is.

Very respectfully
Thos. Featherstonehaugh
Medical Referee

{Tune in October 12th for the exciting answer!}

Letter of the Day: October 9 / CP 1539

Norfolk, Va
October 9 / 67

Col and Surg: A. L. Edwards USA
Chf M. O. Bur Rgt
Washington D.C.

Col:

I have the honor to transmit herewith Photograph of “Frank Lamb” born at Weldens Orchard near Halifax North Carolina, in the year 1789.

It’s a case of “Inguinal hernia” of 69 years standing. The man was 9 years of age when hernia occurred. The hernia was reducible until he was 40 years of age, when sold to a man, named “Baine Lamb” at or near Jerusalem S. Hampton Co. Va: for the sum of $150.00. The overseer of said man compelled the poor man to work in the woods, cutting and hauling heavy timber, without giving him the support of truss, after his own was worn out. The hernia had its present size about 10 years ago, and I should judge weighs about 10 pounds.

Frank Lamb was send (sic) from Jerusalem to Hospital for Freedmen at this City on the 17th July 1867. Has up to this date, not regarding the continued irritation upon his bowels, enjoyed fair health. The Photograph is not very well taken, the artist could not do better, as the patient trembled too much, and hoping it will nevertheless prove interesting.

I am Surgeon with profound respect, your most ob: ser’t
Ferdinand Lessing
AA Surg USA
In charge Hosp: for Freedman
Norfolk City Va.