Tag: Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
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St. John’s wort: Repelling witches and treating depression
Even the most devout Christian might be excused for not taking off time from his work or pleasures to celebrate on June 25 the birthday (not the gruesome beheading) of St. John the Baptist. This is also the day of the summer solstice (the longest… Read more
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Promoting early 20th century American eugenics under the guise of science
Joseph LockhartSaty Satya-MurtiCalifornia, United States Few adherents of pseudoscientific beliefs have wreaked as much societal and human damage as did the eugenicists during the first half of the 20th century. In America, these beliefs led to large-scale sterilization, immigration controls with flimsy rationales,1 and support… Read more
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The discovery of the Bairnsdale (or Buruli) ulcer and the source of the White Nile
John HaymanParkville, Victoria, Australia Five of the six patients in whom Mycobacterium ulcerans infection was first identified and described lived in the Bairnsdale district of southeastern Australia.1 The mycobacterium was not initially named as such, but the progressive skin ulcer that it causes became known… Read more
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Lessons in infection prevention from Ugandan culture
José de la FuenteCiudad Real, Spain The study of ancient cultures may provide insights for modern biomedical advances.1,2 Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a diverse country with many ethnic groups, including the Baganda or Ganda, Acholi, Iteso, Ankole, and Bugisu. The Uganda… Read more
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Emilie Chamberlin-Conklin-Warner (1887–1968)
Avi OhryTel Aviv, Israel The American poet Emilie Chamberlin-Conklin-Warner is one of the few non-physicians who received a prize or citation from the American Medical Association (AMA). Her Religion Marches1 is a collection of thoughtful, humorous, or sad poems about the life and work of… Read more
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The illness and death of Napoleon III
Napoleon III, the last monarch of France, led a life marked by political ambition, exile, and a quest for legitimacy. Born in Paris in 1808 as the nephew of the reining emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, he spent much of his early life in exile and was… Read more
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Tobacco in my time
Hugh Tunstall-PedoeDundee, Scotland Doll and Hill’s 1956 publication1 linking smoking with lung cancer had one quick result—others were delayed by years. My school biology class displayed a cigarette butt among the specimens in our classroom, labelled “Fagendia cancercausia”. A year later when being interviewed for… Read more
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Shaggy dog licks patient
As a very young doctor, a very long time ago, I had to support myself by making house calls as a locum or for an agency. The calls often came at night, often from a worried-well patient. Finding the right house was frequently challenging, especially… Read more
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Book review: The Autumn Ghost: How the Battle Against a Polio Epidemic Revolutionized Modern Medical Care
Howard FischerUppsala, Sweden In the 1950s, parents on both sides of the Atlantic dreaded the arrival of the annual polio epidemic. In the US, the number of polio cases peaked in the summer. In Scandinavia, the polio season was at its worst in September and… Read more
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Albert Alexander: Unsung hero of penicillin
JMS PearceHull, England Hartnup disease, Christmas disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease are instances of the rare naming of diseases after the patients so afflicted. There are other medical discoveries, disorders, or treatments in which the crucial part played by the patient is unattributed. One example… Read more
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To see versus to observe: Why Sherlock Holmes could have been an ophthalmologist
Rida KhanNew York, United States In “A Scandal in Bohemia,” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first short story within his renowned Sherlock Holmes series, the titular character engages in a lighthearted battle of wits with his companion and right hand, Dr. Watson. After Sherlock explains his… Read more
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Scales fell from his eyes
George ChristopherMichigan, United States A pivotal moment in the history of Christianity was the conversion of St. Paul while en route to Damascus. “On his journey…a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him…he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,… Read more