INTRODUCTION

It hardly seems possible! - - After all that planning and anticipation, the Heidelberg conference is history. But most would agree that it's the kind of history that will be remembered for a long time.

Attendance was outstanding. Slightly over 200 attendants from 42 countries were officially registered. It had the feeling of a large meeting with the personal warmth of a smaller gathering of friends. And the program was equally impressive with 40 speakers, 20 demonstrations and an extensive, post-conference tour that included Munich, Vienna and Rome. We are all indebted to Andrea Whalley, Gunther von Hagens and their hard-working staff for a job well-done. Thanks also to the tour hosts, Alfred Riepertinger, Martin Lischka and Maurizio Ripani.

The Pathologisches lnstitut of the University of Heidelberg proved to be an ideal meeting site. The auditorium was exactly the right size, comfortable and well-equipped. Spacious, sunlit corridors provided a generous amount of room for displays and casual conversation. And, equally important, it was accessible, from almost anywhere in Heidelberg by public transportation. Our thanks to the administration of the Pathologisches lnstitut for the opportunity to use this wonderful facility.

And who can forget the Riverboat Party? Plastinators seem to have a better-than-average ability to generate merriment. There was dining, dancing and plenty of conversation among people who might never have met one  another were it not for a mutual interest in plastination.   To  crown  an  evening  of  gaiety,  suitable awards were presented to the "Funniest Plastinators in the World".

Highlights of the Conference were too numerous to describe in detail, but mention must be made of the dramatic unveiling of the plastinated man -- a whole body done in silicone. That's going to be a "hard act to follow" but we all have two years to prepare.

The next (6th International) conference Is planned for Kingston, Ontario, Canada, which sounds like another winner. The exact dates (between the 20th and the end of July of 1992) will be announced in the near future. Mark your calendars now so you can't possibly forget.

Write if you are interested in joining the International Society for Plastination. If I don't hear from you before, I'll see you at the 6th International Conference.

By: Harmon Bickley

POST CONFERENCE TOUR:

Following the  conference,  an international  group of travelers set out from Heidelberg on Saturday, July 28th, by rail for a week tour of Munich, Vienna, and Rome. South Africa, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, Honduras, and the USA were represented. At Munich, we were greeted by Alfred and Ralf and escorted to the Einhorn Hotel near the station. The balance of the afternoon was spent in individual pursuits in and around the Bavarian capital. My preference was the Deutsches Museum and in the evening to imbibe some of the famous Munich refreshment.

Our tour of the plastination facilities at the pathology institute   began   on   Sunday   morning. We were appropriately impressed by the facilities, but even more outstanding was the manner in which the specimens were displayed. The walls of a hallway, on the lower level, were given over to glass fronted cabinets to accommodate their varied collections. Many of the specimens were color injected or stained and pleasing to look at even if one had no interest in specimens for medical education or research. The color conservation advantages of Kaiserting's solution were demonstrated and the safety and environment protecting features that have been incorporated into their facility were explained. After refreshments and considerable "shop talk", we adjourned to a nearby restaurant for a typical Bavarian meal. A bus tour of the city topped off our stay in Munich.

Monday morning, we entrained for Vienna and spent most of the day rolling eastward through the highly productive agricultural area north of the Alps. We were promptly welcomed by C. Stradal and settled in our nearby accommodations. After a briefing of the events planned  for  Tuesday,  we  were  allowed  to  go  our individual ways. Prime among our concerns was any place that had air conditioning. Most of Europe was suffering a spate of heat and humidity that would have seemed extreme even for a resident of Bangkok or St. Louis, Missouri. {These conditions persisted for the remainder of the trip and it is the opinion of the writer that any group that can travel under these conditions and continue to speak to each other in a civil manner deserves the "von Hagen's Medal" for heroic action in the name of plastination.) A tour of the Institute of the History of Medicine at the University of Vienna was the high point of our stay in Austria. The extensive display of antique Italian medical models was a revelation. The collection is over 200 years  old. Not only the wax models themselves but also the individual inlaid cabinets in which they rested were works of art. The colors in the models have been preserved through these many years. Some exaggeration of the general lymphatic system was noticed and a wholly fictional display of an extensive lymphatic system of the brain gives one a jolt at first viewing. At the time of their manufacture, it was assumed that lymphatics were present in that area also. Many  of  the  problems  of  birth  were  depicted,  as obstetrics was a principal duty of physicians at the time the models were made. The artistic detail, to achieve a life-like appearance, was noted in a female model, with beautiful blonde hair and a string of pearls around her neck, as she reclined on a tufted and fringed satin pad. At the plastination facility in Vienna, the variations in equipment used and the types of specimens needed for their curriculum were viewed. Herr Strada! is an accomplished plastinator and had several illuminating comments and tips to pass on to us.

We departed from Vienna Wednesday evening after having had time for a look around that old capital of Austro-Hungarian Empire and arrived in Rome mid­ morning Thursday. As most Europeans take a holiday during August, the travel facilities were operating at capacity and most cities were devoid of  permanent residents except those operating tourist-related enterprises. Nourished and rested, Dr. Filadora, with great flair and graciousness, conducted our group to the University for a meeting with the department head and for a look at what is being accomplished in their plastination laboratory. We were interested to note that the Italians forego deep freezers and accomplish plastination at room temperature. The resulting specimen is adequate and they pay particular attention to displaying the completed specimens against contrasting colors and textures for maximum effect. Their efforts in electronically enhanced medical education were demonstrated by the staff. The remainder of the time in Italy was at the individual's leisure before returning to either Heidelberg for the second workshop or to a point of embarkation for returning home.

In conversation with the other tour participants, it was agreed that the  tour gave us insights Into different methods and equipment options, as well as, new uses for the specimens that we are creating in our plastination

labs at home. It was reassuring to see that what we are doing deserves the efforts and funds that we expend to enhance education and research at our facilities.

Our thanks to Herr Hillebrands for organizing this illuminating journey.

By: T. R. Barnes