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Description:

While working at the Valley Forge General Hospital during World War II, three Army dentists—Capt. Stanley F. Erpf, Maj. Victor H. Dietz, and Maj. Milton S. Wirtz—made plastic eyes and taught the technique to others. This is one of those eyes.

Ref: “3 Army Dental Officers Find Way To Make Eyes of Plastic,” [Louisville] The Courier Journal (Jan. 1, 1945), p. 7.

“Dentists Making Plastic Eyes For Blind Veterans,” Los Angeles Times (July 15, 1946), p. A1.

“Plastic Eyes,” The Army Nurse 2 (June 1945): 9.

Capt. Stanley F. Erpf, Maj. Victor H. Dietz, and Maj. Milton S. Wirtz, “Prosthesis of the Eye in Synthetic Resin,” Bulletin of the U.S. Army Medical Department (July 1945): 76-86.

Victor H. Dietz, Stanley F. Erpf, and Milton S. Wirtz, “Artificial Eye,” U.S. Patent 2,497,872 (Feb. 21, 1950).

Date Made: 194319431943Associated Dates: 1950 02 21 / 1950 02 21

Maker: Dietz, Victor H.Wirtz, Milton S.Erph, Stanley F.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, PhoenixvilleUnited States: Pennsylvania, PhoenixvilleUnited States: Pennsylvania, Phoenixville

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1991.0417.06Catalog Number: 1991.0417.06Accession Number: 1991.0417

Object Name: Artificial Eyeeye, artificialprosthesis, modelOther Terms: Artificial Eye; Prostheses

Physical Description: acrylic resin (overall material)rayon (overall material)cellulose acetate (overall material)paint, oil (overall material)white (overall color)blue (overall color)black (overall color)red (overall color)yellow (overall color)molded (overall production method/technique)Measurements: average spatial: 12 cm x 5 cm; 4 3/4 in x 1 15/16 inoverall: 4 7/8 in x 2 1/8 in x 2 1/8 in; 12.3825 cm x 5.3975 cm x 5.3975 cm

Metadata Usage: CC0

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-b18d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1119588

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