[Histonet] AFIP History

[mtitford <@t> aol.com]

Those of you who mourn the passing of the AFIP may be interested that a book has been published about its history, entitled, "Legacy of Excellance: The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology 1862 - 2011" by Paul Stone, published by The Borden Institute, Fort Detrick, Maryland. It details the AFIP history from the Civil War period to the present. It has many, many great photographs. The early chapters are mainly about medical care in the Army during the early years, but later chapters are about its different missions in later years. There are photographs of the museum and its different specimens, teaching of pathologists, research, DNA, veterinary, forensic, etc, etc.

   Photographs include those of Frank Avalone, Dr Frank Johnson and Lee Luna who all devised histology staining methods. Lee Luna is described as "The Father of Histology" (He may have some competition for that title!). Dr Johnson is shown using what I think is an RCA EMU 3 transmission electron microscope, the only TEM  made in the USA  (I think). The National Society of Histotechnology is mentioned too.

  I worked at the AFIP for a few weeks on two occasions. It was interesting to see some familier faces in the book.

Michael Titford
USA Pathology
Mobile AL