Artificial Eye

Artificial Eye

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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).
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
Artificial Eye
eye, artificial
prosthesis, model
Other Terms
Artificial Eye; Prostheses
Date made
1943
1943
1943
associated dates
1950 02 21 / 1950 02 21
maker
Dietz, Victor H.
Wirtz, Milton S.
Erph, Stanley F.
place made
United States: Pennsylvania, Phoenixville
United States: Pennsylvania, Phoenixville
United States: Pennsylvania, Phoenixville
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)
gold (overall color)
red (overall color)
molded (overall production method/technique)
Measurements
average spatial: 11.7 cm x 5 cm; 4 5/8 in x 1 15/16 in
overall: 4 5/8 in x 2 in x 2 3/4 in; 11.7475 cm x 5.08 cm x 6.985 cm
ID Number
1991.0417.09
catalog number
1991.0417.09
accession number
1991.0417
Credit Line
Dr. Milton S. Wirtz
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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