History of Medicine

The practice of medicine throughout history.

Resources in this category:

Archaic Medical Terms
http://www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm

"This list covers archaic medical terms and some modern terms that have become everyday language, but have a different meaning or slant when used by doctors or had a different meaning in the past... Generally, the definitions given apply to UK usage and UK spelling (I am a doctor in the UK). If more than one definition is given, they are in order from most likely to least likely."

The Asclepion
http://www.indiana.edu/~ancmed/intro.HTM

A page devoted to the study of ancient medicine, designed to be an internet source that presents the study of ancient medicine in a manner that is both accessible and useful to the general public and to students in the history of medicine courses at Indiana University Bloomington.

Cesarean Section -- A Brief History
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/cesarean/cesarean_1.html

"Imagine no antibiotics, antiseptics, anesthesia, rubber gloves, clotting agents, invisible dissolving sutures, ultrasound, or even sharp scalpels. It's amazing that cesarean section was even attempted before this century. Yet, written records go back to 1500, when a Swiss sow gelder saved both his wife and child by this method. Since then, the procedure has been performed more often than you might expect, right up to the present, when nearly a quarter of all births are delivered cesarean. Read the whole history, with engaging text and gory woodcuts."

Chi Med: The History of Chinese Medicine Webpage
http://www.albion.edu/history/chimed/

"The ChiMed web site is managed by an international group of scholars who study the history of medicine in China". Resources available here include a directory of scholars, bibliographies, online and electronic resources, institutions, and libraries.

Dittrick Medical History Center
http://www.case.edu/artsci/dittrick/site2/

This website has informative online exhibits, online images, bibliographies, and articles about the history of medicine.

Health Media Lab, Interactive Health Education
http://www.healthmedialab.com/html/about.html

Health Media Labs has presented two exhibits which are mainly textual so that there should not be any impediment for users who have no graphical interface. The first exhibit deals with "Emerging Infectious Disease" and gives a brief history of infectious disease and instructs the user in the current threats, which are not so different from those of the past. The second exhibit is called "When the President is Patient." It highlights the ethical and political considerations that impact the events surrounding our leaders' weakness. How did we deal with this issue in the past and how do we deal with it today? These exhibits are designed as "interactive health education for people of all ages."

Historic Asylums of America
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~asylums/

This web site catalogs historic state hospitals founded in the latter half of the 19th century, focusing on--but not limited to--facilities built on the "Kirkbride plan." Included are hospitals still in operation, hospitals still standing though closed, and those that no longer physically exist. Most of the pages include photographs or images from postcards.

History of Medicine Division
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/

From the National Library of Medicine website: "The History of Medicine Division (HMD) holds all National Library of Medicine (NLM) monographic material printed before 1914, including books, manuscripts, pamphlets, and dissertations, and all journals prior to 1871. In addition, HMD holds NLM's post-1914 pamphlets and dissertations, the Modern Manuscripts Collection, the Prints and Photographs Collection, and the Historical Audiovisuals Collection. "

The History of Women and Science, Health, and Technology: a Bibliographic Guide to the Professions and the Disciplines
http://womenst.library.wisc.edu/bibliogs/hws/hws.htm

Offers extensive bibliographies about women in science, including bibliographies of biographies, scientific views of women, feminist critiques of science, and works on women in every scientific discipline. Other topics include women's health, the history of home economics, and the impact of technology on women. Searchable.

Images from the History of Medicine
http://wwwihm.nlm.nih.gov/

From the History of Medicine website of the National Library of Medicine: "This system provides access to the nearly 60,000 images in the prints and photograph collection of the History of Medicine Division (HMD) of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). The collection includes portraits, pictures of institutions, caricatures, genre scenes, and graphic art in a variety of media, illustrating the social and historical aspects of medicine. "

MedHist: The Guide to History of Medicine Resources on the Internet
http://www.intute.ac.uk/healthandlifesciences/medhist/

This directory of Internet sites relating to the history of medicine and medical sciences can be browsed by subject or searched.

Medical History of American Presidents
http://www.doctorzebra.com/prez

This rich resource provides information about the documented and theoretical ailments of American Presidents and other noteworthy figures. Each American President has his medical history laid out in a simple timeline.

MedicalAntiques.com
http://www.medicalantiques.com/

An online resource for people interested in medical antiques. They specialize "in cased surgical sets, bloodletting artifacts, and medical instruments. If you are seeking research, photos, information, pricing, and people who are passionate about medical and surgical history... this is the place to visit."

Surgical Instruments from Ancient Rome
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/library/histor...

Provides photos, Latin names and descriptions of medical instruments from ancient Rome from the University of Virginia Health Sciences Library Historical Collection.