Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-12
THE ARMY MEDICAL MUSEUM.

SOME CURIOUS THINGS EXHIBITED THERE-GRM
RELICS OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF JOHN
WILKES BOOTH AND HENRY wIRz-sPEcIME,ss
OF SINGULAR GUS-sHOr woUNDs-THE HISTORY
OF THE INSTITUTION
About nineteen years ago the nucleus of what
is probably the finest medical museum in the
world was formed under the administration OF
Surgeon General Hammond. in one of the rooms
over Riggs Co.'s Bank, corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street. The first specimens
were prepared by the late Dr.. F. Schafhirt and
the museum was then and for several years in
charge Of Dr.. J. H. Britton 1t grew
but slowly for few years, and the
whole collection was confined to the sides
OF room not over twenty feet square, some of
the clerks OF the office occupying the center Of
the room with their desks. In the second wear
of the war it was found necessary to look for
larger quarters, for in a few months interesting
specimens had accumulated in such numbers
that beside the shelves In the specimen room
every nook and corner about the few rooms
then occupied by the Office was made a reposi-
tory for the relics. The building on H street,
between 18th and 14th streets, erected by Mr..
w. W. COrcOran as an art museum. was pressed
into service, and in September, 1853, with the
specimens only 1000 or 1900 in number, ar
ranged on the shelves, the Army Medical Mu-
scum may be said to have become
A PERMANENT INSTITUTION.
Fostered by the government, under the
spectst care of Surgeon General j. X. Barnes,
the museum added to its store of treasure, and
this building also became too small After the
close of the war and the
ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN
at Ford's theater Goth street, between E and
F,) the government purchased the theater
building, and it was remOdeIled for the use of
the surgeon generals Of1ice-the upper story
being set apart for the museum and the other
portions for the clerks and archives of the
office. TO this place the museum was removed
In 1855 it was opened to the public. Here have
been gathered nearly 10000 specimens, all Of
them interesting to the medical or surgical
student and many to the n-prOfessiOnals.
Gradually the museum has become a point of
attraction and the number of visitors increase
yearly 1t is not uncommon for some students
OF nature to make daily visits. carefully study
ing the subjects and making notes thereon.
There is but little doubt that it is valuable edu
Gator of the people.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE MUSEUM
Entering the building by the south door and
ascending by an iron stairway to the third story,
the visitor finds himself in the museum. On tn e
sides of the room there is shelving, and ar
ranged in rows are cases containing every
conceivable kind of specimen, some mounted
on stands and others in jars, while ,hang-
ing to the ceiling or standing On the tops
OF the cases are to be seen other speci-
mems. models of Instruments and vehicles
including hospital cars and steamboats,, beds,
etc, showing the approved plans and devices
lor tne care and comfort OF the wounded.
THE SPECIMENS.
In all there are now over 1000 surgical speci-
mems, 900 under the head Of anatomical. 2,5OO
comparative anatomy, 5000 microscopical and
tue of MIC cobo,
These are all neatly numbered, and in few
by reference to the catalogues, a full
history of any case may be had There are. as
may be expected. many specimens serving as
examples OF bad surgery Many Of the speci-
mems have an historical interest attached to
them. To the outsiders the attendants are not
allowed to give information or to point out par
ticular cases, giving the names of the individual.
but when specific inquiry is made the specimen
is cheerfully pointed out Probably those which
are asked for more than others are the
RELICS OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH,
the assassin of President Lincoln. On little
stand mounted on wire, labelled 1855 are
three human vertebrae (the third, fourth and
fifth, through an aperture in which thin wire
is placed. showing the course of the ball. Near
this, in a wide mouth phial, labelled 4.OS7, is
in alcohol apiece of white matter
about three inches long, through which is an
opening: Referring to the catalogue under the
head Of 4,GS6 is the follOwing:-''The third |
fourth and fifth cervcal vertebrate cOnoidaI
carbne ball entered the right side, comminuting
the base of the right lamina of the fourth yerte-
brae. fracturing it longitudnay and separating |
it from the spinous process at the same time |
the fifth through its pedele and in |
vOlving that transverse process The missile !
passed directly through the canal with slight |
inclination downward. and to the rear, emery |
ing through the left bases of the fourth and fifth
laminae, which are eomminuted and from which |
fragments were imbedded in the muscles of the |
neck The bullet in it's course avoided the !
large cervical vessels. (From a case where death
occurred few hours after injury. April %, /
1866" No. 1857 has this entry: "A portion |
OF the spinal cord from the cervical region,
transverseiy perforated from right to left by |
earblne bullet which fractured the lamlnae of /
the fourth and fifth vertebrae. The cord is much |
torn and is discolored by blood. (From a case /
where death occurred few hours after the |
injury, April %, 1861" These are all the re-
mains OF Booth now above ground. so far
known. BY strange freak Of fate they are
now on exhibition in the very building where he
had often appeared before delighted audiences.
and where the tragedy in which he performed |
only too we'll the role of assassin was enacted. |
Not far away is the spot to which Booths /
body was taken after its disinterment at the |
arsenal four years later, and where it was
placed in coffin before it's removal to the |
amify lot OF the Booths In Baltimore.
GENERAL sICKLES' SHATTERED LEG.
Another specimen, No. 1895. is the lower por- |
ion of right leg, both bones, the tibia and
ibula, having been fearfuly shattered BY a |
'Ound shot. The entry shows that it is from |
Major General d. E. S., o. S. ", Gettysburg.
July I'd, 1853, amputated by Surgeon r. Sim;
hat the stump healed rapidly. so that he
mounted his horse in September, 1858, and that |
he pecimen was contributed by the subject |
The reader will, of course. recognize this as
he leg given to his country by General d. E. |
SickfeS.
RELICS OF WIRZ.
Another specimen is the forearm Of Henry |
NTz, Of Andersonville notoriety, who was exc
;uted in the Old Capitol prison. November 10th,
$685. and near it is a small bone from the root |
II the tongue and a small portion of the rope
With which he was hanged The first of these
specimens (the bones of the forearm) shows that I
instead Of Wirz having had fractured arm
which had not united, rendering it impossible to /
use revolver Gas was testified by witnesses for
The prosecution), the ball passed between the |
;wo bones of the forearm, and the flesh wound |
lnlv diSoho him Tho hnnoc Of tho poot,