seen wounds made by Minie balls—hence the emphasis upon such specimens in what soon came to be the largest collection of such specimens in the world.
Some 30 of the specimens other than gunshot wounds were from reamputations or other secondary operations. Two were from victims of railroad accidents; one was the result of a kick by a horse. Only two were saber wounds, and there were no instances of wounds by the bayonet. One specimen was from a case of gangrene of the face attributed to salivation—a condition resulting from excessive dosage of calomel or other mercurial drugs. The most numerous single disease listed as the cause of the lesions shown in the specimens was typhoid fever, designated in 17 cases. The most frequently mentioned disease was "Chickahominy diarrhoea," 10 cases. The Museum's specimens, as they may be observed in its original catalog, were illustrative of the effects of military action and camp conditions upon the life and health of the soldier. [1]
The work of preserving the specimens and preparing them for museum purposes was done at the Museum by a professional anatomical "preparator," Frederic Schafhirt, assisted by his son, Adolph, and later, also by his son, Ernst. The senior Schafhirt, who bore the courtesy title of "Doctor," was born and trained in Germany and had been an assistant in anatomical work for Dr. Joseph Leidy of the University of Pennsylvania.
The preservative commonly used was alcohol diluted in strength to 70 percent. This alcohol was secured by re-distilling the illicit liquors seized and confiscated by the provost marshal of Washington, a source of supply which was found adequate for Museum purposes for some years. Dr. Brinton recalled afterward that the side lot of the Museum was "piled with kegs, bottles, demijohns and cases, to say nothing of an infinite variety of tins, made so as to fit unperceived on the body, and thus permit the wearer to smuggle liquor into camp."
Among the more ingenious of these containers, according to the recollection of another officer assigned to the Museum, were false breasts, each holding a quart or more, worn by women who were arrested as they sought to cross the Long Bridge, carrying liquor to the camps.[2]
