Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Bell, Charles Milton (1848-1893) Successful primary excision of the head and four inches of shaft of the right humerus for gunshot fracture.

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05111.01.0031 Author/Creator: Bell, Charles Milton (1848-1893) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Photograph Date: March 1867 Pagination: 1 albumen : b&w ; 35.5 x 27.8 cm. Order a Copy

One photograph entitled, "Successful primary excision of the head and four inches of shaft of the right humerus for gunshot fracture," taken by Charles Milton Bell dated March 1867. Image is of Major Tomas G. Morrison of Indiana, five months after undergoing surgery on his right arm. Verso features a photograph of the 4" shaft removed from Morrison's forearm, alongside a description of his medical condition and the operation he underwent. Description indicates that Morrison was "wounded at Big Shanty, Georgia, on October 4, 1864 by a conoidal ball, which passed through the surgical neck of the right humerus, severing the head from the shaft." Text on bottom of mount reads: "Photographed at the Army Medical Museum. By Order of the Surgeon General: Geroge A. Otis, Bv't Lt. Col. and Ass't Surg. U.S.A. Curator A.M.M."

Morrison, Thomas G., fl. 1867
Otis, George A., fl. 1820-1867

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources