The evening times., 1896-12-08
STRANGE CHARTS.
Miss Fannie B. ElkinS Makes Wonderful
Pathological SpecimenS,

1t seems strange for o woman to invade
the disSecting room. and through art to
lend helping hand to science. yet this is
the calling Miss Fannie Is. Elidns has
chosen and followed successfully. The work
is iE charts, color plates process, and half
toned drawings, which she makes from dis
sections, photographs and from sketches
or books She Is familiar with the uses
OF the "pthalmoscope, larnygo>Cope. oto-
scope, microscope and camera-lucida and
has frequent use for all OF them. She also
models and ColOrS pathological specimens
in hard plaster or papier machc. with
equal facility. In her studio she has a
long able .'on which she makes casts OF any
part of the human anatomy desired.
Her work is used by the medical stu
dents in all our leading colleges. Before
Mss Elkins gave her attention to the sub
ieCt the students were forced to make their
necessary observations from sawed up slices
OF huuanlty, frozen or preserved in alcohol.
Whether the increased number Of he centler
sex throneing the medical school had its
influence or not, this method suddenly
found disfavor
Then Frenchman came to the rescue
reproducing the sections in tinted casts but
the work was not delicate or true IN color
or detail, and found scant favor with the
professors. About this time Miss Elkins,
who was a teacher in the Packer In
family physician to make some large ana
tomical charts. As she had always felt
a keen interest in anatomy, the charts
proved no small success. and the doctor
showed his appreciation by assisting her
to obtain other work. Very soon the irk-
some routine of n teachers life gave place
to the interests of science. The doctors
all welcome Miss Eikins, assisting her IN
every way, her gentle, woInanly demeanor
winning universal respect.
Whenever physician has an unusual case
ne wishes 10 put on record this little wo-
man Is his companion, sitting quietly by,
pencil, water-colprs and paper, doing her
work while the doctor does his. All Of the
medical journals now published have Illus
trations by Miss Elkins, but the triumph of
her career has been her pathological spec
linens, which by far outclasS those II the
FrenchInan in delicate, accurate handling,
each tiny nerve and each vein being de-
picted with fidelity greatly delighting
the medical men,
Almost every well wn ph ysician in the
country has had at one time or other need
or Miss Eikins' services, and have had to
pay weii for them. too. Despite her rather
unusual calling Miss Elkins is very womanly
IN appearance. She is rather SMALL even
for woman; has dark hair. a trim figure
and powerful face, glasses emphasizing
the character She talks with great car
nestness, and frequently alludes to the new
he.ds which are opening TO women. On
the walls OF her studio are the exhibits
which have won for her the medal of merit"
at the Cotton States International Exhibi-
ton held at Atlanta. Ga, in 1895. and the
medal and sword at the Worlds Fair.
The Worlds Fair sword was granted to
her for best colors, accuracy and beauty
A curious painting, in her studio represents
the heart of sheep, painted in color, after
heart.
Thus it will be seen that Miss Elkins takes
a higher interest in eatabies than the aver
age woman.