Looking at American Pathology During Times of War

At times seemingly innocuous publications from the Federal Depository Program reveal interesting and underlooked segments in America history, and can lead to the discovery of even more interesting materials within the larger collection. One such case comes from the U.S. Army Medical Center, which released this month the book, "Legacy of Excellence," a review of the 150-year history of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Legacy of Excellence -- in print only. SuDoc #:D 101.2:AR 5/104

The Institute of Pathology began in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum, established by Brigadeer General WIlliam Hammond to "collect and properly catalog all specimens of morbid anatomy, both medical and surgical." Originally located in Hammond's Washington D.C. office, the museum relocated several times -- including, in 1866, one year after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, to Ford's Theater -- while struggling with funding and recognition from both the Army and Congress.

By 1876, the collection held 6,539 specimens illustrating wounds and diseases produced during military service to the United States. Specimens include the usual archival items such as documents and photographs, but involve the unexpected as well: body casts to show specific wounds from different types of bullets, the bullets themselves, preserved limbs and bones from amputations, the skeletal remains of animals, and "wet" specimens of organs and tissues saved from military surgeries.

Images in the book highlight "wet" and "dry" specimens.

The material collected during the Civil War was used to create the multi-volume set, The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. This is a massive, 6,000 page set that provides a statistical compilation of the types of injuries a doctor might have expected to see during the Civil War, and their treatment.

Illustration from The Medical and Surgical History showing "excisions of the elbow joint for shot injury."

It's here where an extensive Federal Depository collection can reveal a depth of information to those interested in a particular topic. Living on the shelves near The Medical and Surgical History are a number of other related materials from the War Department (now known as the Department of Defense):

Defects Found in Drafted Men is a First World War-era set compiled from 1917-18 draft records that details by defect, disease, U.S. state, and urban and rural location, just under 2 million American males, aged 18-30.

A Report of Surgical Cases Treated in the Army of the United States from 1865 to 1871 is just that: a case-by-case description of surgeries performed on soldiers for the five-year period following the American Civil War. These surgeries are organized by area of the body and include descriptions of military suicides.

Mention of a Sword Wound to the Eye, from A Report of Surgical Cases (1871).

The Manual of Neuro-Surgery (1919) advised War-time surgeons on brain anatomy and physiology, the central nervous system, as well as details on head injuries and their repair.

Illustration from surgery to alleviate a suboccipital herniation.

Taken as a whole, these materials reveal the ongoing history of medical pathology in the U.S., and detail -- as is often the case in American history -- how the U.S. military turns its need to support and track the effective performance of American soldiers into benefits that expand outward to American civilian life.

Needless to say, U.S. Government Documents about pathology in general extended well outside the military realm. From the Department of Justice, for example, patrons see guidebooks like Forensic Pathology: A Handbook for Pathologists and the Crime Scene Search and Physical Evidence Handbook. There are books on autopsies, dealing with "mass fatality events," and annuals on the health and effectiveness of troops over time.

The soldier's experience informs innumerable aspects of American life.

For future medical students, patrons interested in military history, or those curious about the richly documented history of the American Civil War, titles like Legacy of Excellence and those above provide a fascinating and intensely vivid look into the medical profession as it benefits -- and has benefited from -- the American military experience.

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Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

Congressional Research Service (CRS) is a research agency of Congress and writes reports at Congress' request. These short reports (usually 10-40 pages long) cover recent topics of concern. This month brings us reports on the budget, foreign relations, military issues, and much more. Although these reports are in the public domain, there is no central database available to the public. To get a copy of a CRS report, you can request it from your senator or representative. These reports were discovered by Open CRS and Secrecy News:

• Pakistan-U.S. Relations: A Summary
• Interagency Collaborative Arrangements and Activities: Types, Rationales, Considerations 
• Insourcing Functions Performed by Federal Contractors: An Overview of the Legal Issues 
• Internships, Fellowships, and Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government
• Congressional Oversight Manual
• Building the Capacity of Partner States Through Security Force Assistance 
• Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations
• Department of Defense Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan: Background and Analysis
• The Department of Defense’s Use of Private Security Contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq: Background, Analysis, and Options for Congress   
• Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): An Overview for Congress
• Issues and Challenges for Federal Geospatial Information
• Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues and Options for Congress
• Text and Multimedia Messaging: Emerging Issues for Congress
• The Motor Vehicle Supply Chain: Effects of the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
• Executive Branch Reorganization Initiatives During the 112th Congress: A Brief Overview
• Status of Mexican Trucks in the United States: Frequently Asked Questions
• Promoting Global Internet Freedom: Policy and Technology
• Imports from North Korea: Existing Rules, Implications of the KORUS FTA, and the Kaesong Industrial Complex
• Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance
• Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the United States
• Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations
• FBI Directorship: History and Congressional Action
• Presidential Authority to Impose Requirements on Federal Contractors
• Funding Emergency Communications: Technology and Policy Considerations
• The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI): Budget Authority and Request, FY2008-FY2012
• Legislative History Research: A Basic Guide
• Mongolia: Issues for Congress
• Application of Religious Law in U.S. Courts: Selected Legal Issues
• ‘Dirty Bombs’: Technical Background, Attack Prevention and Response, Issues for Congress
• ‘Dirty Bombs’: Background in Brief
• Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Extended Until June 1, 2015
• Gun Control Legislation
• State Taxation of Internet Transactions
• Kazakhstan: Recent Developments and U.S. Interests
• U.S. Foreign Aid to the Palestinians
• New Zealand: Background and Bilateral Relations with the United States
• Brief History of the Gold Standard in the United States
• Military Construction: Analysis of the FY2012 Appropriation and Authorization
• Warrantless, Police-Triggered Exigent Searches: Kentucky v. King in the Supreme Court
• The Smart Grid and Cybersecurity — Regulatory Policy and Issues
• DNA Databanking: Selected Fourth Amendment Issues and Analysis
• Access to Broadband Networks: The Net Neutrality Debate
• China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities--Background and  Issues for Congress 
• Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues
• DC Gun Laws and Proposed Amendments
• Duration of Continuing Resolutions in Recent Years
• F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program: Background and Issues for Congress
• Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses
• Kuwait: Security, Reform, and U.S. Policy
• Libya: Unrest and U.S. Policy
• Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress
• Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress
• Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress
• Navy SSBN(X) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress
• Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and  Issues for Congress
• Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet Union
• North Korea: Legislative Basis for U.S. Economic Sanctions
• Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer
• Panama: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations
• Project BioShield: Authorities, Appropriations, Acquisitions, and Issues for Congress
• Proposed U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement: Background and Issues
• Reducing the Budget Deficit: Policy Issues
• Reducing the Budget Deficit: Tax Policy Options
• Reducing the Budget Deficit: The President's Fiscal Commission and Other Initiatives
• Rwanda: Background and Current Developments
• Securing Nuclear Materials: The 2010 Summit and Issues for Congress
• State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2011 Budget and Appropriations
• The Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and Current Developments
• The Federal Budget: Issues for FY2011, FY2012, and Beyond
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An Appropriations Overview
• The Peace Corps: Current Issues
• The Senior Executive Service: Background and Options for Reform
• The Technology Innovation Program
• U.S. Assistance Programs in China
• Uganda: Current Conditions and the Crisis in North Uganda
• Ukraine: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

Interested in historical CRS reports? If you are here at the Boulder campus, check out the LexisNexis Congressional database, which has reports dating back to 1916.

Not on campus but still want access to additional reports? The library has a guide linking to various additional sources of CRS reports.