page 6
daily nebraskan
thursday, january 19, 1978
Skeletons dangle high price tag, but they hang tough
By Kathy McAuliffe
Make no bones about it. Skeletons are
expensive.
A fully articulated skeleton, one with all
bones intact, has a price tag of about $400,
according to Dr. Warren Stinson, assistant
professor of anatomy at the University of
Nebraska Medical Center.
Medical and dental schools in the
United States use skeletons distributed by
biological supply houses to instruct stu
dents. However, the bare-bone facts are that
skeletons are cheaper now than they were
two years ago, Stinson said. Skeleton
prices then jumped approximately $100.
According to the Washington Post
Service, the shortage occurred when In
dira Gandhi, India's .former .prime min
ister, banned the country's export of skele
tons. The ban created a world-wide short
age because India supplies most of the
world's skeletons. When Mrs. Gandhi was
voted;vout of office, the ban was lifted.
Of course, the plastic version of the
skeleton always can be used, but this can
pose problems for students, said Stinson.
"I don't feel plastic models are really as
representative as they should be," said
Stinson. "I really prefer true bone
models."
Plastic skeletons cost about $ 1 SO more
than natural skeletons, he said. Plastic
skeletons may be more expensive because
they are more durable.
"Bones will shatter and break (while)
plastic tends to give," Stinson explained.
When bones are broken Stinson super
vises the doctoring of the damaged skele
ton, but care must be taken when the
skeletons are mended, he said. One repair
technician working for Stinson pulled a
real boner when he repaired a skeleton
with two left feet instead of the usual right
and left.
Currently the medical center owns 16
skeletons and 42 skulls, Stinson said.
The most recent purchase was two skele
tons in 1976.
, Purchases are infrequent because a
skeleton can be used for many years.
Whether one lasts for five or 30 years de-
. i u. i j
pends on how carefully students handle it, appear to be sharp, Minson saw, u wuum
he said. Stinson said he "doesn't expect to not affect the number of skeletons
turn over that many skeletons." purchased. The skeletons are a necess i y
Although an increase in prices might part of a medical student s studies. Stu-
1 FACTORY J,
1 if..
rtents eain an understanding of muscle
placement and the skeleton's role as the
body's main support system, he said.
While skeleton costs increase, the cost
of skulls remains relatively stable, he said.
Dan Greer, assistant to the dean at the
UNL College of Denistry, said a skull
purchased three years ago cost about
$65. The price for a skull now is about
$80, he said.
The Dental College purchases 66 skulls
each year, one for each freshman dental
student. The skull's cost is included in each
student's books and equipment fee. Every
student owns a skull (other than his or
her own) which is used to study the mouth
and general facial structure.
Bill Jordeth, junior dental student, said
the skulls are necessary for the anatomy
course every freshman is required to take.
"But we haven't used them that much
since then," he added. "It's sitting in the
case at home."
What are Jordeth's plans for the skull?
"You can always go back and review the
anatomy on a real skull," he said.
Some students take a personal interest
in their skulls, said Jordeth. One student
dressed the skull with a stocking cap and
carried it with him in his car. Besides
being good company, a skull will never
be a back-seat driver.
UNL professor writes eastern train history
By Gail Reid
The great big rolling railroad bug nipped
a UNL economics and business history in
structor early in life and he has been
writing about trains ever since.
Charles Kennedy has written railroad
management histories since he was a post
doctoral student at Harvard University.
Kennedy, 66, is preparing a three
volume history about the management of
New England railroads from 1871 to
today. He has been working on the text
since 1950.
Some of the rare sources he has ac
quired for his book include a set of finan
cial and shipping records from the Boston
and Maine railroad, annual reports, rail
road journals, and rare price lists.
Kennedy used his material to prepare "a
systematic method of determining the
ability, or lack of it, of a company's execu
tives and managers," he Said.
It was natural for the gray haired man
with gold wire rimmed glasses to combine
an interest in history and trains into a
writing career. Kennedy said he acquired a
love for history at Hastings high school,
and worked for the railroad while there.
Kennedy began writing the management
history of railroads after having taught and
written management history of air trans
portation. Two years after studying at Harvard he
was hired by the railroad management of
the Boston and Maine Railroad to write a
complete history of its railroad, Kennedy
said. He has worked on the material since
1952, and the first volume should be pub
lished in August.
The railroad was unable to continue
paying Kennedy's expenses after going
bankrupt so Kennedy financed the project
himself, except for several small grants
from UNL.
Materials Kennedy has written are used
in his classes. He said railroads are an ex
ample of business history.
"The railroad was the nation's first big
business. The railroad executive, more than
the inventor, or civil engineer, was the pri
jnary motivating force in starting and de
veloping big business," he said. t
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