THE FORGOTTEN FIRST CAREER OF DOCTOR CARTER,HENRY,VAN,DYKE

BACKGROUND: While Henry Gray's Anatomy: Descriptive and Surgical, firs t published in 1858, is distinguished by superb illustrations, its ori ginal illustrator is remembered for an entirely different set of accom plishments, notably significant contributions to tropical medicine. ST UDY DESIGN: Literature review RESULTS: Dr. Henry Van Dyke Carter, Prof essor of Anatomy and Physiology and subsequently Dean of the Grant Med ical College in Bombay, India, was a skillful researcher and keen clin ician who made significant contributions to tropical medicine, includi ng the discovery of Spirillum minus, the spirochetal organism that cau ses relapsing fever. For his discoveries he was honored by both the Br itish Medical Association and the English government. Before his depar ture for India in 1858, however, he and Henry Gray worked at St. Georg e's Hospital Medical School and collaborated on the first edition of t he text that is still the ''Bible'' of anatomy to many medical student s. His drawings have appeared in every subsequent edition, up to the p resent day. CONCLUSIONS: During his first career as a medical illustra tor, Carter was responsible for the drawings that have helped generati ons of physicians to master the intricacies of human anatomy.