Old Timey Medicine

And silly things.

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Excerpt from the Ebers Papyrus, English version translated from prior German translation.

Even in 1550 B.C. it was understood that the fundamental remedy for an abscess is to drain it.

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The Ebers Papyrus, also known as Papyrus Ebers, is an Egyptian medical papyrus of herbal knowledge dating to c. 1550 BC. Among the oldest and most important medical papyri of ancient Egypt, it was purchased at Luxor (Thebes) in the winter of 1873–74 by Georg Ebers. It is currently kept at the library of the University of Leipzig, in Germany.

It is among the earliest records of parasitic infections.

An older English translation can be found here: oilib.uchicago.edu/books/bryan_the_papyrus_ebers_1930.pdf

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Three medical students at Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, snapped at a Dean’s reception, in 1885. They were the first woman to get a degree in Western medicine in their respective countries.

More story here: http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-07-15/historical-photos-circulating-depict-women-medical-pioneers

Joshi's application essays are available online, and may be useful for anyone trying their hand at applying to medical school.

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Physician Struggling With Death for Life (1920)

Print

Ivo Saliger (1894 - 1987)

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Antonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek

Using his handcrafted microscopes, he was the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms, which he originally referred to as animalcules, and which are now referred to as microorganisms. He was also the first to record microscopic observations of muscle fibers, bacteria, spermatozoa, and blood flow in capillaries (small blood vessels). Leeuwenhoek did not author any books; his discoveries came to light through correspondence with the Royal Society, which published his letters.

The letters are published as "Antony van Leeuwenhoek and his "Little animals"; being some account of the father of protozoology and bacteriology and his multifarious discoveries in these disciplines."

Letters here

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We’ve republished 13 old-timey medical illustrations and turned them into a multiple choice test that will challenge your knowledge of terrible diseases. It’s like a BuzzFeed quiz with syphilis!

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Leeching of a patient, National Library of Medicine

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Herbert James Draper - Ulysses and the Sirens (1909)

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When Doctors Differ FE Weatherly

attractive chromolithograph illustrations by St Clair Simmons

1891

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Nueva píldora: “Cristo muerto”, de Andrea Mantegna

View Post

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Dr. Joseph Warren’s medical account book. 

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Dr. Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775) was an American doctor who played a leading role in American Patriot organizations in Boston in early days of the American Revolution, eventually serving as president of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress. Warren enlisted Paul Revere and William Dawes on April 18, 1775, to leave Boston and spread the alarm that the British garrison in Boston was setting out to raid the town of Concord and arrest rebel leaders John Hancock and Samuel Adams.

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Lepers Attended by Angels, Neapolitan School, 17th Century.

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Dr. Mary Edwards Walker’s pocket surgical kit

Dr. Walker was the first female surgeon in the U.S. Army, serving during the Civil War.

She was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1865 by President Johnson, and remains the only woman to have ever won it, to this date. Interestingly, this high honor was awarded to her (and even had a bill passed in order to make her eligible) in order to recognize her service to the country…while making sure that she didn’t receive an army commission in retirement.

Indeed, she made less as a pensioner than the widows of most officers did, but she saw the greater honor of her Medal, wearing it every day until her death in 1917.

Walker also campaigned as an abolitionist (prior to the war), prohibitionist, and an advocate for dress reform, citing women’s clothing as “immodest and unwieldy”. She was arrested several times in the late 1800s for “impersonating a man”, because of her trousers and top hat.

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The Repentant Magdalen George de la Tour c. 1635 - 1640

click and look at it huge

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Lorenzo Mattielli

Fall of the Angels at St. Michael’s Church in Vienna, Austria

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Primary adrenal deficiency, or Addison's disease, results in a deficiency of both mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. This can lead to vague weakness or orthostatic hypotension that later progresses to electrolyte abnormalities (low Na, high K), nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain and ultimately hypotension, wasting and death. Hyperpigmentation (picture above) occurs due to low cortisol prompting increased pituitary ACTH and increased blood Beta-lipotropin which has melanocyte stimulating activity.

In secondary adrenal insufficiency (such as from pituitary insufficiency), electrolytes will often be normal and hyperpigmentation absent.

Info from Merck Manual