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Home > Resources > Personal Collections Finding Aids > FC018

Alfred Goldman Papers

Alfred Goldman
Alfred Goldman
Alfred Goldman Papers
Volume: 1.0 linear foot
Inclusive dates: 1895-1974
Collection code: FC018
Organization of the Collection
Container List
PDF Version

Historical Note

Alfred Goldman, born in St. Louis on October 6, 1895, attended public schools in the city and won a scholarship to Washington University where he received three degrees: an A.B. in 1916, an M.S. in physiology in 1922, and an M.D. in 1920. An excellent scholar, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. Medicine fascinated him as an intellectual pursuit and as a means to help others. He also was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed vigorous athletic activity, playing varsity basketball in college and remaining physically active throughout his life. Bowling, golf and fishing were his favorite diversions.

AG’s medical career was spent entirely in St. Louis as a physician in private practice and at the Washington University School of Medicine as Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Director of Medical Chest Service. AG is remembered as an extraordinarily skillful physician and colleague. Students appreciated his effectiveness in imparting clinical skills during their rotations with him. He retained close attachments to many associates from the early years of his career until the end of his life.

The spirit of critical inquiry characterizing his professional career came in part from a rigorous training in physiology. His research always reflected a depth of interest in the patient and his drive for scholarship of the highest quality. His earliest scientific discovery dispelled myths about the effect of chilling on the development of upper respiratory disease. As a medical student, AG participated in experiments on chilling with his classmates, Stuart Mudd and Samuel Grant. Their findings proved that exposure to cold produced vaso-constriction in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, a significant fact in treating diseases of the respiratory tract and one quoted widely in the literature.

The work on chilling had a larger impact because it led to the earliest definitive studies of acid-base changes during hyperventilation. During chilling, the investigators exposed themselves unclothed to temperatures of 4° C, and in this situation, hyperventilation occurred regularly. AG observed that the reaction of his urine always was alkaline following chilling. Although some effects of hyperventilation were known previously, the physiology of tetany due to hyperventilation was completely unknown. Tetany, the hyperexitability of nerves and muscles, is now known to be due to a decrease in concentration of extracellular ionized calcium. AG and Grant used a metronome to pace breathing frequency to induce marked alkalosis, and on several occasions, AG hyperventilated to the point of generalized tetany. The two worked out physiological alterations accompanying the marked loss of carbon dioxide and realized that a decrease in ionized calcium likely produced the tetany although technical difficulties precluded measurement of ionized calcium.

With his deep understanding of hyperventilation, it is not surprising that AG was the first to recognize hysterical hyperventilation and tetany in patients. His clinical description was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1922. AG applied the appropriate therapy to some of the earliest patients recognized. This therapy, simple rebreathing into a closed container such as a paper bag, continues to be the preferred therapy for hysterical hyperventilation.

AG also investigated pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas. He was the first to recognize the relationship of this disorder to the Rendu-Osler-Weber type of familial arteriovenous fistulas.

The effects of environmental inhalant upon the lung attracted AG’s attention and he wrote an important paper on sulfric-acid fume poisoning. In addition, he was one of the earliest workers to recognize pneumonconiosis in the tungsten carbide industry, and suggested that the principal offending agent in this type of pulmonary fibrosis was cobalt, a suggestion since confirmed by other workers. He served as consultant physician to Koch Hospital in St. Louis at the time of earliest drug therapy in tuberculosis and was responsible for inclusion of many St. Louis patients in the drug trials. He was given Viomycin by the Pfizer Company in 1949 and realized its effectiveness. Recognizing one of the earliest examples of sedormid purpura, he reported the incident to the pharmaceutical firm and was advised that it probably was coincidence and not worth publishing. Within a year, however, there were at least a dozen reports in the literature documenting similar toxicity to the drug, and he regretted not publishing his early report.

AG took an active role in the American College of Chest Physicians, serving as president during 1964-65; presenting papers and participating in symposia in many states and abroad, including Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America.

AG died on November 25, 1973.

From a memorial article by John A. Pierce, M.D, March, 1974 (modified for the finding aid, 2005).

Provenance

AG’s wife, Miriam L. Goldman, gave the Medical Library books and manuscripts belonging to her late husband in 1974-1975 (74-8 and 75-14 and Library Notes (newsletter), 13 (4):4 January/February 1974). In 2005, his son, Roger L. Goldman, gave framed documents, the memorial scrapbook, certificates, clippings, and photographs belonging to his father (2005-036 and 2006-005).

Access and Use

The collection is open and accessible for research. Certain categories of documentation, however, may carry restrictions on access. For detailed information, contact the Archives and Rare Book Section (arb@wusm.wustl.edu). The Library holds copyright.

Scope and Content

The Alfred Goldman Papers contain publications, correspondence, manuscripts, lecture outlines, case studies, a notebook, a scrapbook of clippings and letters (microfilm only), a scrapbook of memorial letters, reports and photographs relating to AG’s career and research in diseases of the chest and effects of hyperventilation.

Among the reprints in the collection are pioneer works in hyperventilation, cytology of fluids, and arteriovenous fistula of the lung. Other series pertaining to AG’s published work are correspondence and reports, manuscripts, and scientific photographs. The correspondence in the scrapbooks attests to AG’s warm relationships with friends, colleagues, and patients.

Shortly after acquisition, the Goldman papers were arranged in 6 subgroups and 11 series, inventoried, and then microfilmed. The so-called subgroups constitute an arrangement by format. In the 1970s the Library regularly classed collections of faculty papers in the following pattern: 1, Publications; 2, Bound Papers; 3, Loose Papers; 4, Card files; 5, Photographs; and 6, Memorabilia. Card files happened not to be part of the Goldman papers, thus no subgroup 4 is present. Selected photographs and memorabilia are retained in the papers. All subgroups are now series and series are now subseries. (Other images, notably portraits and group portraits, are presently found in Library visual collections VC 410, 411, and 415.)

The arrangement by format also called for enumerating folders in a fashion that needs explanation –particularly if the microfilm is used. First, the four part folder code number on the right side of the folder tab represents following sequence: collection number/subgroup number/series number/folder number. Second, the folder numbers start over with each new subgroup rather than with each new box. Third, empty cross reference folders were made referring users to material elsewhere in the collection. Later, empty folders were removed creating the gaps in folder numbering.

Related Material

Visual Collections from Roger L. Goldman (Accession 2005-036 & 2006-005) consist of various single and group portraits in VC 410, 411, and 415.

Pulmonologist John A. Pierce discussed the career of Alfred A. Goldman in an interview recorded in 1974 as part of the Washington University School of Medicine Oral History Project. The audio recording and transcript of the interview are available at http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/oral/interviews/pierce.html.

Microfilm Edition

Microfilm edition, 2 reels, 16mm. The first scrapbook, Reel 2, was microfilmed in 1974 and the rest of the collection in 1977 (Reel 1).

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Alfred Goldman Papers, Washington University School of Medicine.

Language of Material

English

Controlled Access Headings

Library of Congress Subject Headings
Goldman, Alfred, 1895-1973.
Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.). School of Medicine – history.

Library of Congress Name Headings
Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.). School of Medicine. Library.

Medical Subject Headings
Environmental Exposure – experiments.
Chest Disease.
Hyperventilation.

Art and Architecture Thesaurus
Scrapbook, 1895-1974

Organization of the Collection (Series List)

Container List

Series 1: Publications
Subseries 1. Alfred Goldman Books, 1945-1959

AG was a contributor to these pamphlets and books. Accession 74-8. Not microfilmed. Notation on folders: FC18/1/1/1-2 = Collection 18, series 1, subseries 1, Folder # 1-2.

Box 1

Clinical problems in chest disease: heoptysis, pneumonitis, the mediastinal mass, pleural effusion, with special reports on pulmonary cytology and the management of chest trauma, Grand Rounds No. 8, verbatim transcript illustrated from telecast at Washington University-Barnes Hospital Medical Center. Upjohn Company, c. 1959. Participating panelist, Alfred Goldman, also Lauren V. Ackerman, Thomas H. Burford of Washington University. 1:1.

Goldman, Alfred, “Diagnosis and treatment of pleural effusions.” P. 502-511 in Medical clinics of North America. Nationwide number. [v. 29] Symposium on new developments in medicine, Philadelphia, Saunders, 1945. 1:2.

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Subseries 2. Alfred Goldman Reprints, 1920-1953

This subseries contains a selection of AG’s short scientific publications. The items themselves are not microfilmed. A curriculum vitae in the WUSM archives vertical file offers a more complete list of his publications. Notation on folders: FC18/1/2/3-25 = Collection 18, subgroup 1, series 2, folder #3-25.

Box 1

1920

With S. B. Grant, A Study Of Forced Respiration. Experimental Production Of Tetany. (Original Study of Experimental Hyperventilation) Am. J. Physio., 52:209-232, 1920. 1:3.

With S.B.Grant, S.Mudd. A further experimental study of excitation of the throat. J. Exper. Med., 32:87-112, 1920. 1:4.

Hymenolepsis nana, a possible cercocystis stage: report of cases. Arch. of Int. Med., 26: 373-380, 1920. 1:5. Three copies.

1921

With S. Mudd, S.B. Grant. The etiology of acute inflammations of nose, pharynx and tonsils. Ann. of Otol, Rhin., & Laryng., 30:1-73, 1921. 1:6.

With S. Mudd, S.B. Grant. Reactions of nasal cavity & post-nasal space to chilling of the body surface: I. Vasomotor Reactions. J. Exper. Med., 34:11-45, 1921. 1:7.

With S. Mudd, S.B. Grant. Reactions of nasal cavity & post-nasal space to chilling of the body surface: II. Concurrent study of bacteriology of nose and throat. J. Infect. Dis., 29:151-160, 1921. 1:8.

1922

Clinical tetany by forced respiration (The Hyperventi1ation Syndrome). JAMA 78: 1193-1195, 1922. 1:9.

1936

Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary bleeding: clinic of Dr. Alfred Goldman, Barnes Hospital. Med. Clin, of N. Amer., 20: 433-495, 1936. 1:10.

1940

Demonstration of cancer cells in pleural fluids. Dis. of Chest, 6:2-3, 1940. 2 copies. 1:11.

1943

Cavernous hemangioma of lung: secondary polycythemia. Dis. of Chest, 9:479-436, 1943. 1:12.

1944

With H. Roth. Spontaneous pneumothorax: report of three unusual cases. Ann. Int. Med. 21:1011-1021, 1944. 2 copies. 1:13.

1945

Diagnosis and treatment of pleural effusions. Med. Clin. of. N. Am. 29:502-512, 1945. 1:14.

1948

Arteriovenous fistula of the lung: its hereditary and clinical aspects. Am. Rev. of T. B., 57:266-280, 1948. 1:15.

1949

Carcinoma of the lung with nonmalignant pleural effusion: recovery by pneumonectomy. Dis. of the Chest, 16:29-[33], 1949. 2 copies. 1:16.

Antibiotics in non-tuberculosis pulmonary diseases. Dis. of chest, 16: 822-, 1949. 2 copies 1:17.

1950

With T. Burford. Cholesterol pleural effusion: a report of three cases with a cure by decortication. Dis. of Chest, 18: 586-[597], 1950. 1:18.

1952

With W B. Seaman. Roentgen aspects of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Arch. of Int. Med., 87:70-81, 1952. 1:19.

With B. Friedman, L. Sale, Jr. Streptomycin therapy in pulmonary tuberculosis: a controlled study. Am. J. of Sci., 223:370-377, 1952. 1:20.

Tuberculosis empyema treated with streptokinase-streptodornase: report of a case with cure. Dis. of Chest, 21:1-4, 1952. 1:21.

With B. Friedman, L. Sale, Jr. The effect of para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) on the development of resistance of tubercle bacilli to streptomycin. Am. J. Med. Sc., 224:53-56, 1952. 1:22.

1953

With Wade H. Shuman, W B. Seaman. Pulmonary manifestations of scleroderma, A.M.A. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 92, 85-97, July 1953. 1:23.

With Wm. T. Hill. Chronic Bronchopulmonary Disease Due to Inhalation of Sulfuric Acid Fumes. A.M.A. Arch. Ind. Hygiene & Occup. Med., Vol. 8, 205-211, Sept. 1953. 2 copies. 1:24. See another copy in Collagen Disease in Subgroup 3, Series 1, Correspondence and Reports.

Pneumoconiosis in the tungsten-carbide tool industry: report of three cases, A. M. A. Arch. of Ind. Hygiene & Occup. Med., Vol. 3, 8:453-465. Nov. 1953. 1:25.

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Subseries 3. Publications by Other Authors, 1930-1951

The following publications were kept here because of inscriptions to AG. Not microfilmed. Accession 74-8. Notation on folders FC18/1/3/26-27 = Collection 18, series 1, subseries 3, Folder #26-27.

Box 1

Gloyne, S. Roundhouse. The clinical pathology of thoracic puncture fluids, London, Bale, Danielsson & Sons, 1930. To Alfred Goldman from Harry C. Ballon, St. Louis, March 13, 1931. 1:26.

Smith, J. Maclean, Wootton, I. D. P., and King, E. J. Experimental Asbestosis in Rats. Thorax. 6:127-136. June, 1951. Autographed by J. Maclean Smith. 1:27.

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Subseries 4. Clippings, 1919-1967

Certain clippings here duplicate those in the first scrapbook. Microfilm reel 1 begins here with folder 37. Accession 74-8, 2005-036. Notation on folders: fc18/1/4/34 = (collection 18, subgroup 1, series 4,) folder #35-37.

Box 1

Reel 1 begins here

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Series 2: Bound Papers
Subseries 1. Address book, Articles, Clinical Medicine, 1935-1963

Folder numbers start over with each subgroup. In this “Tel-address” book, AG entered citations on clinical medicine by topic alphabetically. Microfilmed. Notation on folder: FCI8/2/1/1 = (Collection 18, subgroup 1, series 1,) Folder #1.

Box 1

Reel 1

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Subseries 2. Scrapbooks about Alfred Goldman, 1895-1974

The first scrapbook was microfilmed in spring 1974 and returned to Miriam Goldman. This scrapbook contains photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, and letters from patients, colleagues, and friends. In rough chronological order from image 29. Correspondence with Carl V. Moore suggests that AG kept the first scrapbook himself. The contents of a second scrapbook with letters of condolence addressed to Miriam Goldman has been put into folders and has not been microfilmed. Accession 75-14, 2006-005. Notation on title: FC18/2/2/0 = Collection 18, series 2, subseries 2, item 0.

Reel 2 only

Image #1-10

Image #11-27 (no discernable order)

Image #29 — (rough chronological order)

End Reel No. 1

Box 1

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Series 3: Loose Papers
Subseries 1. Correspondence and Reports, 1940-1974

Correspondence and reports contains subject files on chest diseases and miscellaneous incoming correspondence. For more correspondence see the scrapbook series. Materials in the subject file include case reports, case notes, reprints, and answers to questions to the editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association (presumably published). The miscellaneous correspondence testified to the high regard that AG was held at the end of his life, but it does not appear to be in a file order of his choosing. Included are documents from AG’s career that may have been gathered for his obituary and which duplicate those in the first scrapbook. Microfilmed except for items added in 2005. Accession 74-8 and 2005-036. Folder numbering starts over with each series rather than each box. Notation on folder: FCI8/3/1/1-93 = Collection 18, series 3, subseries 1, Folder #1-93.

Box 1

Reel 1

Box 2

Reel 1

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Subseries 2. Manuscripts, 1962-1964 & no date

Manuscripts are typed lecture notes on hyperventiliation syndrome and chest diseases with annotations on accompanying slides. Patient record in folder 96 is restricted. See the archivist for details. Microfilmed. Notation on folder: FCI8/3/2/94-99 = Collection 18, series 3, subseries 2, Folder #94-99.

Box 2

Reel 1

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Subseries 3. Printed Lecture Outlines, no date

Lecture outlines are on chest diseases and their treatment. Microfilmed. Accession 74-8. Notation on folder: FCI8/3/2/100 = Collection 18, subgroup 3, series 3, Folder #100.

Box 2

Reel 1

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Series 5: Pictorial Records
Subseries 1. Scientific photographs, 1946-1965

Scientific photographs consist largely of black and white prints of chest x-rays or radiograms showing chest abnormalities and diseases. A mimeographed handout from a 1962 clinicopathologic Conference and an article transcribing a 1956 clinicopathologic conference are included. Many photos carry Washington University School of Medicine Department of Illustration numbers and presumably were used to illustrate articles such as the reprint in Folder 4. Annotations on the photos in AG’s hand include diagnosis, clinical and pathologic features and often a case history. Microfilmed. Accession 74-8. Because patient names are on the front or reverse of the print, the series is restricted for privacy reasons. See the archivist for details. Notation on folder: FCI8/5/1/1-5 = (Collection 18, subgroup 5, series 1,) Folder #1-5.

Box 2

Reel 1

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Series 6: Memorabilia
Subseries 1, Certificates, 1926-1972

Only folder 1 is microfilmed. Accession 74-8, 2006-0005 (Folder 2). Folder numbering starts over with each series not each box. Notation on folder: FC18/6/1/1 = Collection 18, subgroup 6, series 1, Folder #1-3.

Box 2

Reel 1

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