Synopsis "Essays in the History of Medicine (in English)"
This third volume, of a five volume series, by Dr. Robert I Levy, is titled, Essays in The History of Medicine. The first essay is on "The History of Sinai Hospital in Baltimore Maryland" within the context of the evolution of Jewish Hospitals, from the 19th century on. Chapters two, eight, and nine treat various aspects of Sir William Osler's work. Chapter three is titled, "Robert Boyle's Experimental History of Colours and lignum nephriticum" which allowed Boyle to formulate a definition of acids and bases in Chemistry, as well as an understanding of fluorescence. Chapter four is titled, "Pulvis Impecacunanhae et Opii- The Powder and The Buccaneer, Thomas Dover" and discusses the use of medications available to the 19th century physicians caring for patients with Bright's Disease. Chapter five treats the Kuhnian paradigm shift, of William Harvey's, De Motu Cordis, that later led to Marcello Malpighi's description of the capillaries in the lung, and its later confirmation by Leeuenhoek. Chapter six, given at a conference of The American Urological Association in 2016, illustrates the importance of Homer Smith as the leading physician in the development of the field of renal physiology, instrumental in developing the use of clearance as a measure of glomerular filtration rate. Smith also provided a deep understanding of the evolution and functional architecture of the kidney over geological time, with examples such as the lung fish, a precursor to the work of Stephen Gould. Chapter seven is a tribute to gastroenterologist John C. Hemmeter (1863-1931) author of Masterminds in Medicine, published in 1927. Chapter ten titled, "Nicholas Monardes, Guaiacum- the Holy Wood from the New World, and the French Pox" puts in context the discovery of medicinal plants unknown previously to the Europe, and brought back from the New world by explorers in the 15th century. Studies in History, Medicine and Culture Series Editor: David B. Levy, PhD, MLS
