The Center for the History of Medicine has joined with peer libraries to initiate a digital Medical Heritage Library. The Center will receive $400,000 over the next two years to digitize 10,000 rare books from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries that relate to the intersection of medicine and society. The initiative is funded by… Continue reading Harvard teams up with other medical libraries to create digital collection
Year: 2010
Fading Art of Physical Diagnosis
A while ago, I wrote a post about the long history of the physical exam and how the advances in technology have changed that practice. For the past 100 years, physical examinations have been the cornerstone of diagnosis with expensive tests and machines supplementing the doctor's direct observations. These tests became popular in the early… Continue reading Fading Art of Physical Diagnosis
Medicinal alcohol and Prohibition
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which banned the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors," took effect on January 16, 1920. It became known as the National Prohibition or Volstead Act. This new law required physicians to obtain a special permit from the prohibition commissioner in order to write prescriptions for liquor. The patient… Continue reading Medicinal alcohol and Prohibition
2010 Nursing Symposium
The Rose Melnick Medical Museum and William F. Maag Library are pleased to host the 2010 Nursing Symposium on Friday, April 2nd. The theme for this year's symposium is evidenced-based medicine in nursing practice. 9:00 am- "Implementing EBM policies at a community hospital" by Cindy Wetzel from Salem Community Hospital 10:00 am- "Safe medication administration"… Continue reading 2010 Nursing Symposium
Lake to River Science Day
Saturday, March 27th 2010 8am - 5pm Beeghley Arena, Youngstown State University Youngstown State University is proud to host the Ohio Academy of Sciences District 15 Lake to River Science Day again this year. Although the Rose Melnick Medical Museum is not usually open on Saturdays, we will be open this particular Saturday for students… Continue reading Lake to River Science Day
Medieval sunglasses?
Although the first documented discussion of eyeglasses dates from the late 13th century in Italy, many cultures had discovered the magnifying property of convex glass lenses much earlier. English friar Roger Bacon (1214-1292) wrote about his observations of convex glass and noted that it would be useful for those with weak eyes. There is evidence… Continue reading Medieval sunglasses?
Hear the Iron Lung at work!
The Melnick Museum has digitized a recording of a March of Dimes fund raising drive from 1952. The drive was held to replenish funds after a recent polio epidemic. During the 20 minute radio program, the announcer Mr. Caldwell interviews three families who were affected by polio. (One of the interviewed children, Judy Shakley, donated… Continue reading Hear the Iron Lung at work!
Child birth in America
For centuries, child birth occurred naturally with help of trained or experienced women. Midwives were often well trained women with children of their own. Midwives usually practiced within ethnic and class-based communities. In addition to helping with the birth, their fee often included check-up visits and assistance with household work for about a week. Although… Continue reading Child birth in America
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