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.