Newly-scanned accession record

Many of the accession records we're scanning are text documents only, but the third one I looked at this morning while doing the dreaded quality review held the image below. The record states only this:

Fetus, third trimester. Unable to determine what specimen demonstrates. [Upon request, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology could not provide any corresponding documentation for this case.]

Another rifle slipped from our grasp

Also sent to the Smithsonian in 1950.

Almost a dime a dozen

I just came across this record in our accession files:

Harper's Ferry and Whitney 54 caliber rifle, circa 1851. Heavy steel barrel; Muzzle loader; Fine barrel; Brass hands and mountings; Brass butt plate; Patch box or place cut in butt stock to hold cleaning rag or caps; Brass cover with spring; Percussion lock. Bannerman Purchase. Sent to Smithsonian Institution 09/06/1950.

It was bought in 1912 for $2.50.

Not a Letter of the Day

We are in the throes of scanning our accession records, the documentation that accompanies specimens and other items that were, at least, at one time in the museum. Once scanned, they have to go through a review and I've drawn the short straw; it can be mightily boring. But every so often I find a record that I have to pause on. Here's one of them now:

Dr. W. Ashby Frankland,
916 Eighth Street N.W.

Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 1900

Office Hours:
8 to 10 a.m.
3 to 5 p.m.

Dr. D.S. Lamb,
U.S.A. Medical Museum

Dear Dr. Lamb:

The history of the fetus I left with you on Nov. 27th is as follows:

Mrs. A.F., married, age about 30, mother of five (5) children. Menstruation Aug. 29, lasted 3 days, flow intermittent.

About Oct. 15 having had no menstruation in Sept. and experiencing almost constant nausea patient tried to induce abortion by passing into the [uterus?] a straightened button hook and a hairpin, making many such attempts within the following four weeks. Three haemmorhages occured lasting about an hour and a half each; one about Oct. 18 and one on Nov. 13th and 14th respectively.

After tamponade of vagina and a hot douche a foetus was born on Nov. 18, apparently three months advanced.

An interesting feature of this case is that both Fallopian tubes were tied with silk on Aug. 1 during an operation for appendicitis, menstruation being then in progress.

The ligation of the tubes was done with the purpose of preventing further pregnancies.

Very truly yours,
W. Ashby Frankland