US Army Surgeon General William Alexander Hammond (MIS 61-4774-1), National Museum of Health and Medicine

Description: William Alexander Hammond (1828-1900) was a military physician and neurologist, as well as the 22th Surgeon General of the United States Army from 1862-1864. During his tenure as Surgeon General, Hammond founded the Army Medical Museum, now the National Museum of Health and Medicine. This was done in Circular No. 2, issued on May 21, 1862, which stated: "As it is proposed to establish in Washington, an Army Medical Museum, Medical officers are directed diligently to collect, and to forward to the office of the Surgeon General, all specimens of morbid anatomy, surgical or medical, which may be regarded as valuable; together with projectiles and foreign bodies removed, and such other matters as may prove of interest in the study of military medicine or surgery. These objects should be accompanied by short explanatory notes. Each specimen in the collection will have appended the name of the medical officer by whom it was prepared."

Hammond was removed from office in 1864 following conflicts over banning the use of calomel (a mercury compound) in treating wounds and inducing vomiting, as well as other strained political relationships. He then established himself in New York City and became a professor at Bellevue Hospital and then NYU. He focused on neurology-a new field at the time-and founded the American Neurological Association. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Date: circa 1865

Photo ID: MIS 61-4774-1

Source collection: OHA 233.05: Medical Illustration Service (MIS) Library, Portraits Series

Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives