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Marcia Crocker Noyes
(1869 – 1946)
Further to my comment on old books and research that started with an interesting bookplate (Ex-Libris). I continued my research and found that the person in charge of the Osler library bookplate was a fascinating individual that today maybe a ghost in the MedChi library and building in Baltimore... This is certainly an article that can be called "A Moment in History"
Marcia Crocker Noyes was the librarian at The Maryland State Medical Society from 1896 to 1946 and was a founding member of the Medical Library Association.[1][2][3]
Sir William Osler, MD. a famous Johns Hopkins surgeon was a noted bibliophile and had a large personal collection of books on various topics. When he became the President of MedChi in 1896, he was dismayed at the condition of the library and knew that with the right person and some stewardship, it could become a significant collection. Sir William asked his friend, Dr. Bernard Steiner, a physician and President of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore for suggestions of a librarian, and Dr. Steiner recommended Marcia Crocker Noyes. A native of New York, and a graduate of Hunter College, Marcia had moved to Baltimore for a lengthy visit with her sister, and took a “temporary” position at the Pratt Library, which turned into three years. Although she had no medical experience or background, she was enthusiastic, and most importantly, she was willing to move into the apartment provided for the librarian, who needed to be available 24 hours a day.
The image in this article is Ms. Noyes on her first year on the job. Marcia developed a book classification system for medical books, based on the Index Medicus, and called it the Classification for Medical Literature. The system uses the alphabet with capital letters for the major divisions of medicine and lower-case ones for the sub-sections. The system was used for many years, but it's now dated and the Faculty's original shelving scheme was never changed. The card catalogs still reflect her classification and many of the cards are written in Marcia's back-slanting handwriting.
Marcia knew enough to ask the Faculty's members about medical questions, terminology and literature. She gradually won over the predominantly male membership and they became her greatest allies; Sir William at the start, and then for nearly 40 years, Dr. John Ruhräh, a wealthy pediatrician with no immediate family of his own. She made a point of attending almost every Faculty function, and in 1904, under guidelines from the American Medical Association, Marcia was made the Faculty Secretary. For much of her first 10 years, she was the Faculty's only full-time employee, only being assisted by Mr. Caution, the Faculty's janitor. Later in life Marcia would say that she hired him because of his name!
Within ten years, the library had outgrown its space, and plans, spearheaded by Marcia and Sir William before his move to Oxford, were made to build a headquarters building, mainly to house the library's growing collection of medical books and journals.
Marcia was instrumental in the design and building of the new headquarters. She travelled to Philadelphia, New York and Boston to look at their medical society buildings, and eventually, the Philadelphia architectural firm, Ellicott & Emmart was selected to design and build the new Faculty building. Every detail of the building held her imprimatur, from the graceful staircase, to the light-filled reading room, and all of the myriad details of the millwork, marble tesserae, and most of all, the four-story cast iron stacks. She was on-site, climbing up unfinished staircases, checking out the progress of the building, which was built in less than one year at a cost of $90,000.
Among the features of the new building was a fourth-floor apartment for her. She referred to it as the "first penthouse in Baltimore" and it had a garden and rooftop terrace. The library collection eventually grew to more than 65,000 volumes from medical and specialty societies around the world. Journals were traded back and forth, and physicians eagerly anticipated the arrival of each new issue. At the same time, Marcia was involved in the Medical Library Association as one of eight founding members. The MLA promotes medical libraries and the exchange of information. One of the earliest mandates of the MLA was the Exchange, a distribution and trade service for those who had duplicates or little-used books in their collections. Initially, the Exchange was run out of the Philadelphia medical society, but in 1900 it was moved to Baltimore and Marcia oversaw it. Several hundred periodicals and journals were received and sent each month, a huge amount of work for a tiny staff. In 1904, the Faculty had run out of room to manage the Exchange, so it was moved to the Medical Society of the Kings County (Brooklyn). But without Marcia's excellent administrative skills, it floundered and in 1908, the MLA asked Marcia to take charge once again.
In 1909, when the new Faculty building opened, there was enough room to run the Exchange and with the help of MLA Treasurer, noted bibliophile and close friend, Dr. John Ruhräh, it once again became successful. Additionally, Marcia and Dr. Ruhräh combined forces to revive the MLA's bulletin, which had all but ceased publication in 1908, taking the Exchange with it. This duo maintained editorial control from 1911 until 1926. In 1934, around the time of Dr. Ruhräh's death, Marcia became the first “unmedicated” professional to head the MLA. During her tenure, the MLA incorporated, the first seal was adopted, and the annual meeting was held in Baltimore. Marcia wanted to write the history of the MLA once she retired from full-time work at the Faculty, but her health was beginning to fail. She had back problems and had suffered a serious burn on her shoulder as a young woman, possibly from her time running a summer camp, Camp Seyon, for young ladies in the Adirondack Mountains. In 1946, a celebration was planned to honor Marcia's 50 years at the Faculty. But she was adamant that the physicians wait until November, the actual date of her 50 years. However, they knew she was gravely ill, and might not make it until then, so a huge party was held in April. More than 250 physicians attended the celebration, but the ones she was closest to in the early years, were long gone. She was presented with a suitcase, a sum of money to use for travelling, and her favorite painting of Dr. John Philip Smith, a founder of the Medical College in Winchester, Virginia. It was painted by Edward Caledon Smith, a Virginia painter who had been a student of the painter Thomas Sully.[4] She adored this painting and vowed, jokingly, to take it with her wherever she went.
The painting was not to stay with her for very long, for she died in November 1946, and left it to the Faculty in her will. Her funeral was held in the Faculty's Osler Hall, named for her dear friend. More than 60 physicians served as her pallbearers, and she was buried at Baltimore's Green Mount Cemetery. In 1948, the MLA decided to establish an award in the name of Marcia Crocker Noyes. It was for outstanding achievement in medical library field and was to be awarded every two years, or when a truly worthy candidate was submitted. In 2014, the Faculty began giving a bouquet of flowers to the winner of the award in Marcia's name, and in honor of her work. Much evidence exists for this tradition, as we know that the physicians, especially Drs. Osler and Ruhräh, frequently gave her bouquets of flowers. Marcia also cultivated flower gardens at the Faculty and decorated the rooms with her work.
Today, the MedChi building is open for tours and if the rumors are to be believed Ms. Marcia Crocker Noyes is still at work in her beloved library as the "resident ghost" [1][5]
NOTE: This article has been modified from the original Wikipedia article on Marcia Crocker Noyes. The article itself is well-written with interesting images of the subject. I would encourage you to visit it. The second insert is from book 00736 in my personal library and shows in pencil, the incredibly small handwriting of Marsha C. Noyes.
Sources:
1. "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" MedChi Archives blog.
2. "Marcia C. Noyes, Medical Librarian" (PDF). Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 35 (1): 108–109. 1947. PMC 194645
3. Smith, Bernie Todd (1974). "Marcia Crocker Noyes, Medical Librarian: The Shaping of a Career" (PDF). Bulletin of the Medical Library Association. 62 (3): 314–324. PMC 198800Freely accessible. PMID 4619344.
4. Edward Caledon BRUCE (1825-1901)"
5. Behind the scenes tour MedChiBuilding
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Galen of Pergamon
The word [pathology] is formed by two components. The root term [-path-] arises from the Greek [πάθος], meaning “suffering”. The term [πάθος], or [pathos] was first used by Galen of Pergamon (129AD - 200AD) (see accompanying image) to denote an alteration of a vital process. The suffix [-(o)logy] also has Greek origin from [logos] or [λόγος], meaning a "book", a "treatise" or "to study". Therefore [pathology] or [παθολογία] is the “study of disease or conditions”. In simpler terms the word [pathology] is also used as a synonym for "sickness", "disease", or "condition".
The root term [-path-] can be found in many medical terms such as:
- Pathology: Study of disease
- Pathophysiology: This combined root adds the root term [-phys-] meaning “function” Study of the function of disease (a disease in action)
- Pathognomonic: See definition here
- Pathogenesis: The suffix [-(o)genesis] means “creation”, or “origin”. Origin of a disease
Original image courtesy of the National Library of Medicine. Public Domain. Clicking on the image will take you to an article on this website on Galen of Pergamon.
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Franz Kaspar Hesselbach (1759 – 1816). German physician, surgeon, and anatomist. Hesselbach was born in Bavaria in 1759. At the age of 19 he became an apprentice to Karl Von Siebold (1736 - 1807), a German surgeon, obstetrician and anatomist. He worked with him as an unpaid assistant for six years until 1789 when he was hired as a prosector.
Hesselbach became a lecturer on anatomy at the University of W?rzburg and a surgical assistant at the Juliusspital at W?rzburg. Later Hesselbach became a professor of Surgery at the same university.
Hesselbach’s name is eponymically tied to many structures, most of them related to hernia, an area where he is best known. In 1806 he published a treatise on hernia (Anatomisch-chirurgische Abhandlung ?ber den Urspurng der Leistenbr?che) “Anatomical and surgical treatise on the origin of Hernias”. These structures are:
- Hesselbach’s fascia: the cribriform fascia covering the saphenous hiatus of the thigh
- Hesselbach’s ligament: also known as the interfoveolar ligament
- Hesselbach’s triangle: site for direct inguinal hernia
- Hesselbach’s hernia: a femoral hernia protruding through the cribriform fascia
Hesselbach also described the femoral hernia in 1798 and distinguished between direct and indirect inguinal hernias.
In 1807 Hesselbach’s contributions were acknowledged and he was conferred the degree of Doctor of Surgery. During his life Hesselbach published several books, treatises, and papers.
A depiction of Hesselbach has not been found (yet) so we publish an image of his eponymic “triangle”. If you click on the image, you will see an original image from Hesselbach's book.
Sosurces:
1. "Franz Kaspar Hesselbach (1759–1816): Anatomist and Surgeon" R. Shane Tubbs et al W J Surg (2008) 32:11 2527-2529
2. "Groin Hernia Anatomical and Surgical History" McClusky DA, et al Arch Surg. 2006; 141(10):1035-1042
3. "Eponyms in groin surgery" Ellis, H. Surgery (Oxford) (2006) 24:8, 257–259
4. "Franz Kaspar Hasselbach (1759–1816)" Agarwal, AK; Mukherjee, R. Indian J. Surg (2008); 70:96–98
Primary Image property of: CAA.Inc. Artist: M. Zuptich.
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The word [version] comes from the Latin [versum / vertere] meaning "to turn" or "to turn around" (see the use of this Latin root in the word "vertebra"). In anatomy, version is the angulation (or turning) of an organ or a structure as a unit. The term is also used to denote the "turning" of a fetus "in utero" by active manipulation to allow proper birth.
Normally, the cervix of the uterus is anteversed or has an "anterior version". This means that the body and uterine cervix are tilted anteriorly (as a unit). Because of this in a female in the anatomical position, the fundus of the uterus looks almost anteriorly, while the main axis of the cervix points towards the coccyx. See the accompanying image.
The opposite, pathological presentation, is retroversion, where the uterus as a unit is tilted posteriorly. The angulation between the main axis of the uterine body and the main axis of the cervix is normal, but the organ as a unit is tilted posteriorly. Varying degrees of retroversion can cause varying degrees of infertility, a condition known vernacularly as a "slippery uterus".
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The word [forceps] is used to denote a grasping-type surgical instrument. The origin of the word has been heavily discussed. It seems that it arises from the combination of the Latin terms [formus], meaning "hot" and [capere]. meaning "to hold", a device to hold something hot. Originally, the word was first used by Roman blacksmiths and was a pair of articulated tongs.
In modern terminology, the singular and plural form for the word is the same: [forceps], although there is an older plural form that is sometimes used: [forcipes]
According to Skinner (1970) the first forceps used in the medical arena were dental extraction forceps. The number of surgical forceps has increased over time. Today there are many types of forceps. Following are some of them:
- Thumb forceps: Tissue (toothed) or dressing (serrated) forceps
- Hemostatic forceps: Forceps designed for hemostasis and dissection. These usually have a locking mechanism and are of the ring-handle type
- Obstetrical forceps: Articulated forceps use to deliver a fetus
- Sponge forceps: Forceps to be used with swabs and sponges
- Right-angle forceps: A family of forceps which have an angled jaw (not necessarily right-angled) used for dissection, hemostasis, and grasping
- Specialty forceps: Forceps that have been especially designed for use on an organ or a specific step of a surgical procedure, such as hysterectomy forceps, tenacula, lung forceps, liver forceps, etc.
Click on the image to see a better detail of the anatomy of a hemostatic forceps.
Sources:
1. "The Origin of Medical Terms" Skinner 1970
2. Codman: Surgical Product Catalog 2000
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The posterior communicating artery is a bilateral artery that communicates the internal carotid artery with the posterior cerebral artery. This creates an anastomosis between the vascular arterial territory of the vertebral artery and that of the internal carotid artery, completing the arterial circle of Willis.
The posterior communicating artery has high variability in its diameter, which can be thin or extremely thick, including the fact that you can find a thin one on one side of the brain and a thick one contralaterally. It is one of the sites for intracranial aneurysm. For more information on the anatomical variations of the posterior communicating artery click here.
Sources:
1. "An Overview of Intracranial Aneurysms" Keedy, A Mcgill J Med. 2006 July; 9(2): 141–146
2. "Observations on the length and diameter of the arteries forming the circle of Willis" Kamath S 1981 J Anat 133; 3:419-423"
3. "Aneurysms of the posterior communicating artery and oculomotor paresis" Sonil, SR J Neurol Neurosurg Psych 1974;37(4): 475–484
Image in the public domain, modified from the original courtesy of Wikipedia.
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The root term [-cost-] arises from the Latin [costa / costalis] meaning "rib". First used by Galen, this root term is used in medical words such as:
- Costochondral: A combination of root terms, adding [-chondr-] meaning "cartilage". Refers to the joint between the bony rib and its cartilage
- Costal margin: Refers to the lower anterior margin of the thorax formed by the cartilage of ribs 7 through 10
- Intercostal: The prefix [inter-] means "between". Between ribs
- Subcostal: The prefix [sub-] means "below". Below the rib
- Costovertebral joint: A joint between the head of a rib(s) and a vertebra(e)
- Costotransverse joint: A joint between the articular portion of the tubercle of a rib and the transverse process of a vertebra