Tag: hospital room
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Plato’s thoughts on illness, medicine, and doctors
In Plato’s philosophical works, particularly in The Republic and Timaeus, we find significant reflections on illness, medicine, and the role of doctors in society. These reflections reveal Plato’s holistic understanding of health as harmony and his views on the proper practice of medicine. For Plato,… Read more
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The novels of Karl May: Myth, adventure, and cultural impact
Karl May (1842–1912) remains one of the most popular and widely read authors in the German-speaking world, renowned for his prolific output of adventure novels that captivated generations of readers. Although his name is less familiar outside of Europe, his imaginative works—particularly those set in… Read more
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Medical aspects of the Mystery of Edwin Drood
Charles Dickens’ last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, remains forever unfinished due to the author’s death in 1870, leaving readers with an enduring literary puzzle. While primarily a mystery narrative, the novel contains several fascinating medical elements that provide insight into both Victorian medicine… Read more
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Le Cid by Pierre Corneille
Le Cid is a five-act French play written by Pierre Corneille, first performed in December 1636 in Paris. It is based on Guillén de Castro’s Las Mocedades del Cid, which itself draws from the legend of El Cid, a Spanish national hero. Pierre Corneille, born… Read more
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Akshamsaddin from a medical point of view
The Ottoman scholar Akshamsaddin (Muhammad Shams al-Din bin Hamzah, 1389–1459) is remembered more often as the mentor and advisor to Sultan Mehmed II rather than as a physician who contributed remarkably to the medical knowledge of his time. Born in Damascus, he acquired in his… Read more
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Virginia Woolf and the Common Reader
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, remains well worth reading. Lovers of English literature admire her wonderful style, and advocates of women’s rights appreciate the sentiments she expressed in her essay “A Room of One’s Own”. During most… Read more
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History of human water channels
Mostafa ElbabaDoha, Qatar Water is the essence of life; it serves as the fundamental solvent for many biochemical processes. Different theories have examined how life began on Earth.1 One of the most popular scientific theories suggests that hot chemicals raised through the sea floor enabled… Read more
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The history of typhus
Typhus exanthematicus is an old disease long confused with typhoid fever. Some historians believe that it caused the Plague of Athens as described by Thucydides, and that it was introduced into Europe by the Spanish soldiers returning from the Americas in the sixteenth century. It… Read more
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Kipling’s books
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) is best known for his adventure stories and poems centered on India, empire, and childhood. However, his works also contain rich medical implications—both in their depictions of disease and healing and in their reflection of medical attitudes during the height of British… Read more
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Jules Verne’s novels
Jules Verne, the celebrated 19th-century French author, is primarily known for his science fiction works that anticipated many technological innovations. His approach to writing was rooted in scientific research: Before penning his novels, he meticulously studied scientific journals and consulted with experts across various fields.… Read more
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Cuore: The heart of Italian literature and society
Cuore, which means “heart” in Italian, is one of the most influential works in Italian literature. Written by Edmondo De Amicis and published in 1886, this novel has become a fundamental text in Italian culture and education. Through its narrative structure and emotional depth, Cuore… Read more
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On superficial, “epidermal” books
Frank González-CrussíChicago, Illinois, United States Camille Flammarion (1842–1925) was a French astronomer who acquired immense popularity as a writer (Fig. 1). Today, his surname brings to mind a major French publishing house (founded by his brother Ernest), but in the nineteenth century and first half… Read more