Journal of Medical Biography最新文献

Francis Home (1719-1813) was a Scottish physician and medical author. Here we consider his biography and three brief accounts of experiments on viper (i.e. adder flesh) broth in the treatment of skin disease ('Herpes or Lepra Gracaeorum'). After a fortnight of treatment one patient was improved but not cured (discontinued due to lack of vipers), one 'almost cured' but refused further treatment at 'disgust' of discovering its contents, and one dismissed cured. The second case constitutes a basic 'cross-over' model as it led to comparison of viper with snail broth in the same patient. Home concluded that viper broth was beneficial for skin disease but his findings did not lead to wider adoption of the treatment. His reported clinical benefits likely arose from improved hydration, protein and cessation of other treatments. Home does not discuss his small sample size or present quantitative outcomes. Home's methods were not influenced by Lind's (1753) methodology for comparing treatments. As both were Edinburgh-trained Scots who served in the British military forces, this reveals the limited communication between clinicians of the day. Home appears to have faced many practical challenges, including accessing vipers, motivating patients' participation and the risk of concomitant treatment with other drugs.

Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869) was an Irish surgeon celebrated in his home city. Born in Waterford in Ireland, he apprenticed under his father, an apothecary, before undertaking the London College of Surgeons examination in 1809. Successful, he trained as an assistant surgeon before joining the Royal Artillery. After several years, he returned to his native city, where he worked at the Leper and Fanning hospitals as a surgeon, and married the first of three wives in 1813. Sadly, she died only five years later, leaving two young sons. In subsequent years, Mackesy continued practising medicine but extended his scope to politics and social causes. He became mayor of Waterford in 1841 and worked as both a magistrate and Poor Law guardian, focusing on public health. He received recognition for his work, being the first doctor outside Dublin to be elected president of the RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland). Trinity College Dublin also awarded him an honorary degree, earning him the title M.D. honoris causa. Thomas Lewis Mackesy died on the 8th of April 1869 from complications of kidney disease. A blue plaque commemorating his life and influence can today be found on Lady Lane, in Waterford city.

Xavier Landerer was a distinguished German Professor of Natural Sciences who studied the composition of thermal waters and promoted their medicinal use in Greece during the nineteenth century. His authorial work was really innovative on a worldwide scale and he is considered a pioneer in studying thermal waters and disseminating their beneficial properties.

Isaac al-Israelī (died early ninth century AD) was a Jewish physician. He is known for writing important works in many different fields such as medicine, philosophy, pharmacology, botany, and Jewish theology. He was a court physician as the chief physician during the rule of the Aghlebids and Fatimids in North Africa. He ensured the systematization and institutionalization of the first medical school established in Qayrawān under the name of Bayt al-Hikma. Israelī was considered an authority in the field of medicine in Qayrawān and is known for his major works in this field. Many of his works were translated into Latin, Hebrew, English and Spanish over time and were first translated into Latin by Constantinus Africanus (died 1082 AD) in 1082. Thanks to these translations, Israel's medical works reached Europe via Sicily and were used as textbooks in the medical school of Salerno (The Schola Medica Salernitana). Moreover, his works continued to be taught with interest in many European universities until the 17th century.In this study, the contributions of a Jewish scholar who continued his medical career in the Islamic development of medicine in North Africa, and in the establishment of a medical school there.

Karl Jarmer was the first professor of dentistry at the Medical Academy in Dresden (Germany). This article chronicles his life, his professional challenges, and the impact of his work, illustrated by theses, articles, books, and original sources from the archives of the Dresden University of Technology's Medical Faculty. His career encompassed a range of experiences, from running a private practice in Stettin to specializing in oral surgery. After serving in the First World War, his academic journey began with the completion of his dental license and doctorate in 1921. Later, he worked at the universities of Greifswald and Kiel before being appointed to the Chair of Dentistry in Dresden in 1954. His appointment triggered a professional rivalry with Johann Alexander Vogelsang, a key figure in Dresden's maxillofacial care, due to conflicting views on academic leadership. Jarmer made significant contributions to the development of dental education in Dresden and played an important role in shaping Dentistry at the young Medical Academy Dresden. Jarmer remained active in academic circles until his retirement in 1963. He died in 1983.

In the chronicles of medical advancement, Dr Paul Farmer stands out as a transformative figure whose unwavering commitment to healthcare equity has reshaped treatments for the disenfranchised. An American anthropologist and physician, Farmer has had a profound impact on global health which encapsulates a legacy driven by the steadfast belief that healthcare is an inalienable human right. This article explores Farmer's monumental contributions, showcasing how his dedication has revolutionized the landscape of healthcare, particularly for those marginalized and underserved. As the architect of Partners In Health and a guiding force at Harvard Medical School, he fostered a novel paradigm of enduring, community-focused medical care. His unyielding advocacy from Haiti to Rwanda confronted entrenched health disparities and galvanized support for increased access to primary and secondary care. His poignant critiques and policy recommendations during the COVID-19 crisis highlighted his relentless pursuit of health justice - advocating for equitable vaccine distribution and tackling racial health disparities. His scholarly works on overlooked health dilemmas and the urgency of global healthcare reflect a legacy that transcends his lifetime. While his passing is deeply felt, Farmer's visionary ethos continues to inspire, beckoning us toward a more equitable healthcare horizon.

Allen O. Whipple was an American surgeon who popularized the pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) for periampullary cancer, which remains the gold standard for pancreatic tumor resections. Whipple was educated at Princeton University (B.S., 1904) and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (M.D., 1908). He swiftly ascended the academic ranks, culminating in his appointment as Professor of Surgery at Columbia and Director of Surgical Services at Presbyterian Hospital in 1921. Whipple published three criteria (Whipple's triad) for evaluating hyperinsulinism secondary to pancreatic insulinoma. He also revived interest in portocaval anastomosis to reduce portal hypertension, determining it to be a consequence of liver disease. During his 40-year career, Whipple introduced the concept of multidisciplinary teams and prospective data collection. He also shaped the structure of surgical training as President of the American Surgical Association and Chairman of the American Board of Surgery. Beyond the walls of the operating room, Whipple was a Renaissance Man whose childhood in Persia (Iran) engendered a lifelong interest in the region's art, culture, history, and medicine. Dr. Allen Oldfather Whipple is remembered as a pioneering physician and surgeon beloved by those who trained under him.

John Lizars' (1792-1860) 'A System of Anatomical Plates of the Human Body' is widely recognized as one of the finest British anatomical atlases published in the nineteenth century. Lizars' commentators always praise his illustrations for their artistry and accuracy, but no one ever provides an account of why they are artistically significant or what makes them veracious. The principal aim of this paper is to begin a discussion of both of those subjects and to show how Lizars used the resources of the visual arts as analytical tools to extend his audience's understanding of the human body.

Kashmir's oldest Neolithic settlement dates back to 3000 BC. It stood as the centre of Buddhism and Hinduism for centuries, till the arrival of Islam in thirteenth century. Although Muslims ruled Kashmir under different empires for about four centuries and ever since there has always been a significant Muslim populace in Kashmir with or without Muslim rule, yet the literature about the history of health care in Kashmir and particularly the history about Muslim contributions to healthcare is sparingly limited. This paper aims at a) historical contextualization of healthcare in Kashmir, b) finding Muslim rulers` contributions if any to the healthcare system and c) exploring places of healing 'shafa-khanas' in Kashmir. In order to achieve these objectives, the methods used were data collection through locating key historical resources, by searching local libraries and bookshops and searching online academic databases, thereafter, subjecting the collected data to thematic analysis. Three themes emerged during data analysis, which corresponds to the objectives of this paper, these are a) 'Historical context of healthcare in Kashmir', b) 'Muslim contributions to healthcare in Kashmir' and c) 'Places of healing 'Shafa-khanas' in Kashmir'. The analysis shows that healthcare during Muslim rule was integrative, progressive, robust, indigenous, specialized, and efficient/accommodative. We conclude that though 'shafa-khanas' existed in medieval Kashmir, there is however not much literature available.