Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-05-13
A Reporter Views the Inner Sights OF
the Medical Museum.

MADE HIS FLESH CREEP.
Reporter Views the Inner Sights OF
the Medical Museum.
There Is q veritable chamber OF
horrors, or In fact several OF them
in the Medical museum which is next
door neighbor to the unique and fan
tastio National museum building.
These cham bers are situated on the
floor directly below the public exhibit
ton hall They are invariably kept
under lock and key" and only the
elect are allowed to pass within their
uncanny portals.
a Washington Post reporter gained
access to the chambers and witnessed
some sights that would make a marble
statue tremble or a cast-lron man
faint The reporter was accompanied
by an attendant whose politeness
would have put Lord Chesterfield to
shame had his lordship been alive
and present
lie then proceeded to show some
horrible specimens of disease and
death. and wound up by producing a
jar in which was the head of an
Indian chief perfectly preserved in
alcohol Grasping the once big brave
by his scalplo2k. which had turned
red from the action OF the alcohol, he
raised the dripping specimen in the
air causing shudder to creep
down the reporters spinal column.
These chambers contain many
things that are not intended for the
public eye but are of vast Importance
to the medical fraternity. Physicians
came from all parts of the country, it
is said to see and study these speci-
mons, many Of which are unmention-
able. They are gathered by Uncle
Sans medical men from all quarters
OF the globe and the government
pays literally for them Guiteau's
spleen and abnornally large brain are
to be found in these apartments, and
rumor has it that his unarticulated
bones are there also.
Referring TO Guiteau DR. Tilden,
formerly chemist at the National ned
ical museum, told the reporter some
unwritten history. He said that the
assass went to the scatfold in q semi-
drunken condition.
This. added the doctor. was n
necessity. You are aware that when
the squad of soldiers entered the Jail
rotunda short while before the exc
cution and came to order arms with n
loud bang Gulteau fell over in a dead
faint His nervous system was COM
pletely shattered. and the physicians
feared they would be unable to get
him to the scaiIold. A consultation
was held and it was decided TO give
him II dose OF brandy. This was done,
and no got n big dose too Not being
head. and his Oh Lordy' song on the
scatfold was, in my estimation. a
drunken etfusion.'
DR.. lilden also described how the
body of Guiteau was removed from
the all to the medical Museum then
located on Tenth street. He said the
body was never buried, but after being
placed in the coffin was taken down
into the Jail cellar where it remained
until after midnight Soon after that
hour a government am bulance drove
up to the rear of the building by way
Of potters field. and the remains were
quietly placed therein and quickly
driven down town. They were taken
into the museum through the alley
which runs in from f street. Once
in the building all that remained OF
Charles j. t,ulteau was taken into the
boilerroom and placed in an immense
L, l. l II Z
and bubble until all the flesh had
fallen from his bones. The latter were
then picked out and bleached and
some day will form a mighty interest
ing exhibit in the medical museum.