One of our visitors' favorite exhibits, the office recreations, can now be seen in downtown Youngstown at the Tyler History Center! In preparation for this exhibit, I did some additional research on the professional changes in the medical profession in Youngstown during the early 20th century. I knew, generally, about office hours and specialization, but… Continue reading Doctors by the numbers: Youngstown at the turn of the 20th century
Tag: technology
New Video!
Finally! We're back to creating more videos for the museum's YouTube channel! The latest video was added last week. Its about rural doctors in the early 1800s. I hope you enjoy it!
Dr. Betterman and the story of how modern medicine came to a small town (1868-1910)
"All doctors have to put on a bold front. [...] I am not ashamed to confess that I do not know it all. Probably never will. I do try to use the best things and methods that rational science has to officer. All medicine has much yet to learn." So writes Dr. Amos Betterman in… Continue reading Dr. Betterman and the story of how modern medicine came to a small town (1868-1910)
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
A short history of stethoscopes
Today stethoscopes are a typical fixture around doctors' necks. They are commonly used to listen to the sounds of the heart and lungs as well as the flow of blood during blood pressure readings. The practice of percussion and immediate auscultation were popular in physical examinations by the early 1800s. In immediate auscultation, physicians placed… Continue reading A short history of stethoscopes
Physical vs. technological diagnosis
In modern medicine, physicians are greatly aided in diagnosis by new machines and technology. Undoubtedly these devices provide more accurate and detailed information than the old, low-tech methods, which usually leads to better treatment for the patient. However, some vestiges of the old methods are still in use and still provide valuable information for a… Continue reading Physical vs. technological diagnosis
19th century doctors in the U.S.
During the late 1800s, many advances in medical knowledge and technology resulted in dramatic changes to many areas of the profession. The two major advances were the acceptance of the germ theory of disease and the use of anesthesia during surgery. These two discoveries, in combination with continued research of the human body and the… Continue reading 19th century doctors in the U.S.
Melnick Medical Museum 