Pre-Electronic Devices | Abacus and Slide Rules

An abacus used at the NIH? Yes, by Dr. Wallace P. Rowe of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). According to Dr. Janet Harley (NIAID), Rowe used this abacus for many years “in making rapid calculations for data analysis—before and even after hand calculators were readily available.” His use of this calculation aid is of interest because many of Rowe’s research contributions had important and fairly sophisticated mathematical aspects. Rowe (1926–1983), chief of NIAID’s Laboratory of Viral Disease, was the first to isolate an adenovirus from patients, and he helped to clarify its role in respiratory disease. Adenoviruses mainly cause respiratory illnesses but can also cause other infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis). They get their name from the human organ they were isolated from: adenoids. Rowe also described the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of these infections. Learn more about how an abacus works at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvsnftXXKdw.
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