As your children consider career options, professions, and areas of interest, their ideas may wander into the realm of the medical profession. They may express desires of fulfilling their calling as a physician, nurse, or to serve in our armed forces in that capacity. Your child may have a project that involves an aspect of medicine, toxicology, or the history of military medicine. I would like to recommend a hidden gem located on the campus of Walter Reed Army Hospital, the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Spend a few hours with family seeing the effort the United States military has devoted to treating its members. Permanent exhibits start with ‘‘Healing the Wounds,” that features the injuries, evacuation, and equipment used to treat injuries caused by the American Civil War. Until January 3, 2010, there is a unique exhibit ‘‘Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty of War,” on the medical aspects of Lincoln’s assassination in April 1864. On special display is the actual bullet extracted from The President’s head, the probe used that night in Ford’s Theater, and fragment’s of Lincoln’s skull. This special display is in honor of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth this year.
In the Korean War display, you will encounter the diseases that killed many of our service personnel, hemorrhagic fever, and the impact that this has on internal organs. The Vietnam War display features the home-made and improvised booby traps and pongee sticks used by the Viet Cong to wound and kill soldiers. American servicemen improvised by padding their boots with parts of cans, this lead to a metal reinforced sole. ‘‘Battlefield Surgery 101,” takes visitors from the Civil War to Vietnam. There is also perhaps one of the most comprehensive collections of microscopes on display from the 17th century to the electron microscope enabling the human eye to see the smallest of viruses.
The Museum corridors end with a display of ‘‘Trauma Bay II, Balad, Iraq,” on how we care for military personnel serving in Iraq, and the advances in portable surgical techniques, evacuation and testimony of doctors, nurses, and medics who care for our wounded and injured in America’s current wars. Your tour ends with an exemplary display on forensic identification and the science that enables our national commitment to identify and honor every American service member who made the ultimate sacrifice. Admission to the museum is free, and the audio tour is free. This is a highly recommended way to spend a day with family, particularly with children interested in biology or medicine. Visit the website http:⁄⁄nmhm.washingtondc.museum⁄ to plan your visit.
Editor’s Note: Cmdr. Aboul-Enein maintains a regular book review column in the Naval District Washington Newspaper Waterline, and other DC area military newspapers. He wishes to thank his daughter Maryam for recommending this museum.
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