Adolf Nichtenhauser was born in Vienna, Austria in 1903. After studying psychology, art history, literature, and motion picture production at the Universities of Berlin, Bonn and Heidelberg, he received an M.D. degree in 1931 from the University of Vienna. Even before he began his medical career, he was intrigued by the educational and aesthetic possibilities of film. He frequently reviewed his films, studied their cultural applications, and directed and edited his own documentary on an Austrian labor organization.
Nichtenhauser's work with film continued after his arrival in the United States in 1939, first as an assistant to the director of health education for the National Tuberculosis Association, and later as a consultant to several federal and private agencies. One agency which employed Nichtenhauser as a consultant was the Armed Forces Medical Library (later the National Library of Medicine) for whom Nichtenhauser prepared a plan to collect and preserve medical motion pictures.
Nichtenhauser's major accomplishment is the unpublished "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine." In February, 1947 Capt. Robert V. Schultz (MC) of the U.S. Navy's Audio-Visual Training Section, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, initiated a contract to Nichtenhauser for the production of a monograph on the general status of medical films. The contract was later transferred to the Office of Naval Research and broadened to encompass the history of films in medicine. The Film Library of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) became the grant administrator, although it was Nichtenhauser who continued to broaden and polish the draft. Efforts to publish the history after Nichtenhauser's death in November, 1953, were unsuccessful.
The typescript was given to NLM in 1981, while the photographs and a photostat of the typescript were transferred to Robert J.T. Joy, M.D. of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In 1991 Joy gave to the library the photographs and negatives, completing once more the original Nichtenhauser collection.
Nichtenhauser's material is divided into two different numbered collections. MS C 277 contains material from the original donation of 1954. It consists of correspondence, notes and other research materials assembled by Nichtenhauser during the course of his career. The typescript "History of Motion Pictures in Medicine" is found in MS C 380. Photographs recieved in 1991 and found in the text have been identified by figure number and filed accordingly. Photographs which could not positively be identified in the text are found at the end of the collection, as is a collection of unsorted negatives.
Collection is not restricted. Contact the Reference Staff for information regarding access. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.
NLM does not possess copyright to the collection. Contact the Reference Staff for details regarding rights. For online customer service, please visit custserv@nlm.nih.gov.
In 1954 MOMA offered to the National Library of Medicine Dr. Nichtenhauser's research papers, files, and correspondence. Some time after 1979 MOMA transferred to the Naval Health Sciences Education and Training Command Nichtenhauser's typescript history and accompanying photographs and negatives.
Nichtenhauser, Adolf. Adolf Nichtenhauser History of Motion Pictures in Medicine Collection. ca. 1950. Located In: Modern Manuscripts Collection, History of Medicine Division, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD; MS C 380.
Acquired in 1981.
| Vol. 1 pp. 1-10 |
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| Fig. 1 - thaumatrope (Napoleon on horseback) |
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| Fig. 2 - phenakistiscope (woman behind instrument) |
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| Fig. 3 - missing |
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| Fig. 4 - missing |
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| Fig. 5 - missing |
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| Fig. 6 - Muybridge experiment at Palo Alto |
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| Fig. 7 - Muybridge, "The Horse in Motion" (6 frames) |
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| Fig. 8 - electrical diagram of Muybridge experiment |
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| Vol. 1 pp. 11-24 |
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| Fig. 9 - "Animal Locomotion" (33 images, person is supported) |
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| Fig. 10 - "Animal Locomotion" (40 images) |
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| Fig. 11 - "Animal Locomotion" (woman jumping rope) |
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| Fig. 12 - "Animal Locomotion" (galloping elk, side and back views) |
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| Unnumbered figure - Etienne-Jules Marey (short white beard & glasses) |
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| Fig. 13 - missing |
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| Fig. 14 - missing |
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| Fig. 15 - horse's hoof with recording device |
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| Fig. 16 - person on horse with recording device (drawing) |
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| Fig. 17 [80] - photographic gun and its interior |
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| Fig. 18 - circle seagulls against black background |
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| Fig. 19 [38] - daigram of Marey's 1st camera |
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| Fig. 20 - hand moving chronometer dial (successive exposures) |
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| Fig. 21 [14] - three chronophotographic camers and bird (ill.) |
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| Fig. 22 - man in black, white line down arm & leg (ill.) |
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| Fig. 23a - "geometrical chronophotograph of a running man" |
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| Fig. 23b - "geometrical chronophotograph" of a downward jump |
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| Fig. 24 - 2 series of seagulls w/1 shutter (black) |
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| Fig. 25 [18] - flight of bird --dissassociation of images |
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| Fig. 26 - lines on black ("course lente") |
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| Fig. 27 - chronophotograph of falling ball, man next to it |
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| Fig. 28 - chronoph of experimental glider (white background) |
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| Fig. 29 - Chronoph apparatus for movements in liquids (man near) |
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| Fig. 30 - chronoph of short choppy waves (F in left corner) |
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| Fig. 31 - Chronoph 4 images of man, incl hurdle and sword thrust |
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| Fig. 32 - chronoph of flight of birds (bottom one landing), 3 images |
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| Fig. 33 - 3rd model of chronoph--ill. |
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| Fig. 34 [15] - film chamber (box)--ill. |
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| Fig. 35 [16] - movement of film chamber ("Fixateur'C'.....") |
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| Fig. 36 - modified version of chronoph camera (cutaway) |
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| Fig. 37 [45] - attachment of microscopic chronophotography |
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| Fig. 38 [20] - walking horse (read top to bottom) |
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| Fig. 39 - man swinging stick and man rowing (8 images) |
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| Fig. 40 - Demeny's Photophone |
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| Vol. 1 pp. 25-50 |
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| Fig. 41 - turtle's heart beating, artifical circulation |
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| Fig. 42 - filming marine animals in Marey's lab (ill.) |
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| Fig. 43 - undulation of skate |
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| Fig. 44 - starfish turning over |
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| Fig. 45 - chronoph cam for filming insects (ill; black background) |
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| Fig. 46 - chronoph of flying bee |
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| Fig. 47 - microscopic images (newt and alga) |
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| Fig. 48 - 3D zootrope of flying gull (ill) |
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| Fig. 49 - 1st Xray picture of knee (Macintyre) |
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| Fig. 50 - missing |
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| Fig. 51 - Doyen leg amputation |
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| Fig. 52 - operation of acute osteomyelitis |
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| Fig. 53 - Doyen thyroidectomy |
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| Fig. 54 - Doyen nephrectomy |
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| Fig. 55 - diagram of Bull's ultralight camera |
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| Fig. 56 - photograph of Bull's ultralight camera |
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| Vol. 1 pp. 51-70 |
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| Fig. 57 - bullet thru soap bubble (18 images) |
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| Fig. 58 - flight of dragonfly (18 images) |
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| unnumbered figure - Jean Comandon--white beard (from Leclerc film) |
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| Fig. 59 - Commandon's micro cinematograph installation (photo) |
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| Fig. 60 - Comandon "Sang d'Ovipares" (blood of frog) |
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| Fig. 61 - Comandon ameoboid movement of leukocyte |
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| Fig. 62 - Comandon "Hemokonia" |
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| Fig. 63 - Comandon "Trypanosoma Brucei" |
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| Fig. 64 - Comandon spirochetes from rabbit |
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| Fig. 65 - Comandon "Eberth's Bacillus" (with small white cross) |
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| Fig. 65a - text of Comandon study guide for film--"Fievre Recurrente" |
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| Fig. 66 - Comandon and Lomon arrangement for X-ray motion picture |
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| Fig. 67 - fragments from X-ray movie (4 rows, hand on left) |
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| Vol. 1 pp. 71-106 |
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| Fig. 68 - backward somersault (looks like fall) |
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| Fig. 69 - missing |
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| Fig. 70 - Comandon "Paramecium" |
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| Fig. 71 - Comandon and Jelly, mitosis of red blood corpuscles of triton |
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| Fig. 72 - flies on meat from anti-fly film |
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| Vol. 2 pp. 107-130 |
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| None |
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| Vol. 2 pp. 131-169 |
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| unnumbered figure - William Otway Owen (glasses at desk) |
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| unnumbered figure - Robert Tunstell Taylor (stern army uniform) |
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| Vol. 2 pp. 170-189 |
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| Fig. 73 - filming an operation at Walter Reed (hernia)---Borden |
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| Fig. 74 - 3 closeups of same |
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| Vol. 2 pp. 190-205 |
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| Figs. 75-79 - missing |
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| Fig. 80 - 4 images from VD film (teeth on bottom) |
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| Fig. 81 - "The End of the Road"--Mary refuses suitor |
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| Fig. 82 - same---2 images, one of Claire Adams and one of Richard Bennett |
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| Fig. 83 - same--"Can't we be marreid soon?..." |
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| Fig. 84 - Vera taken to syphilis hospital |
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| Fig. 85 - "A questionable address..." |
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| Fig. 86 - motto on screen: "2 roads there are in life..." |
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| Fig. 87 - camera trick of Vera daydreaming |
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| Vol. 2 pp. 206-225 |
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| none |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 1-34 (typescript II) |
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| Fig. 88 - von Rothe's surgical camera (2 ills) |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 35-70 |
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| none |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 71-99 |
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| Fig. 89 - "How We Hear" (2 ills) |
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| Fig. 90 - "Action of the Human Heart" (3 ills) |
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| Fig. 91 - "Action of the Human Heart" (1 ill, circulatory system) |
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| Fig. 92 - "How We Breath" |
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| Fig. 93 - "Our Children" (4 images, 1 of black family) |
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| Fig. 94 - "Our Children" (father in waiting room full of mothers) |
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| Fig. 95 - "Our Children" (3 images, 1 of baby tooth) |
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| Fig. 96 - "Our Children" (toothbrush drill) |
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| Fig. 97 - "Food for reflection" (2 images, one of family at breakfast |
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| Fig. 98 - "Food for Reflection" (hot lunch demonstration) |
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| Fig. 99 - "Venereal Diseases Lecture Film" (2 ills, stricture in urethra) |
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| Fig. 100 - same; formation and rupture of pus in fallopian tube |
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| Fig. 101 - same; animation of fertilization (4 images) |
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| Fig. 102 - same; placental circulation (ill) |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 100-129 |
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| none |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 130-159 |
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| Fig. 103 - inability of baby to support head |
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| Fig. 104 - 4 images; operation to remove aneurism of tibial artery |
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| Fig. 105 - Borden setup for filming of operations (nurse on ladder) |
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| Fig. 106 - "Hirschsprung;s disease" (stitching intestine) |
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| Fig. 107 - sketch of hetroperitoneal cyst (2 ills) |
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| Vol. 3 pp. 160-182 |
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| none |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 1-39 (Typescript III) |
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| none |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 40-74 |
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| Fig. 108-119 - missing |
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| Fig. 120 - "Posture" (5 images) |
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| Fig. 121 - "Sun Babies" (healthy vs. rachitic; 3 images) |
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| Fig. 122 - "The Best-Fed Baby" (2 images--promoting breastfeeding) |
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| Fig. 123 - same; 3 ills; how air trapped in baby's stomach can escape |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 75-84 |
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| Unnumbered photos belong to Bethesda Naval Center and have their own BuMed. |
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| unnumbered figs - 2 photos stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 11) sow petri dishes and woman in lab mixing something in bowl |
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| unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (supp. 14) labeled "Back to the Heart" |
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| unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 15) of heart with pulmonary artery labeled |
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| unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 20) showing wouonded arm and where to apply pressure |
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| unnumbered fig. - photo stapled to p. 83 (suppl. 23) showing frowning man with black strip over temple |
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| Fig. 124 - "Human Development" (2 images of dividing ovum to baby) |
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| Fig. 125 - "Human Development" (3 images, embryo and fetuses) |
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| Fig. 126 - "Human Development" (glass cabinet with embryo models) |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 85-114 |
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| Fig. 127 - "The Digestive Tract" (2 images) |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 115-139 |
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| Fig. 128-129 - missing |
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| Fig. 130 - "The Diagnosis and Treatment of Infections of the Hand" (3 images) |
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| Fig. 131 - same (2 images), woman with hat |
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| Fig. 132 - "Direct Inguinal Hernia" (2 images, 1 labeled "Deep Epigastric Vessels") |
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| Fig. 133 - "Tests of Vestibular Function" (2 diagrams with eyes) |
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| Fig. 134 - same; patient performing test |
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| Fig. 135 - "Cardiac Irregularities" (photo of heart still in body) |
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| Fig. 136 - same; 2 images of exposed dog heart |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 140-160 |
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| Fig. 139 - "Laparotrachelotomy" (DeLee lecturing on C-section) |
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| Fig. 140 - same; operation seen from a distance |
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| Fig. 141 - same; closeups of baby emerging |
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| Fig. 142 - same; suturing uterus ( 2 diagrams, 1 photo) |
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| Fig. 143 - same; arrangement of camera and lights |
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| Vol. 4 pp. 161-185 |
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| Fig. 144 - "Physiology and Conduct of Normal Labor"--"Internal Anterior Rotation" of baby's head |
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| Fig. 145 - same; title ("Watchfulness" and Expectancy") |
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| Fig. 146 - same; "What is in the Fundus?" |
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| Fig. 147 - "Episiotomy and Repair" (hands molding clay model of pelvis; 3 images) |
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| Vol. 4 [mislabeled Vol. 3] pp. 186-224 |
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| None |
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| Vol. 4 remainder |
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| None |
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| Vol. 5 |
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| None |
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| Vol. 6 |
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| unnumbered figs - 2 loose photographs inserted before 85: "Schema des divers organes de l'appareil cinemicrographique"; "Camera Set-up for Cinebiology" |
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| unnumbered fig. - loose photos inserted before 87: "Details de la microfage" (picture of camera) |
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| Vol. 6 remainder |
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| References to figures in text exist, but no numbers used, i.e., "Fig...." |
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