Below are highlights of current developments in Historia Medicinae. 

We are continually accepting article submissions for continuous publication and applications to serve as reviewers. 

Historia Medicinae ISSN: 1946-3316

Books received: North Carolina and the Problem of AIDS: Advocacy, Politics, and Race in the South

posted Jan 11, 2012 9:23 PM by Andrew Degnan

Dr. Stephen Inrig, a professor of History of Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, brings a new perspective on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s in the south with his recent work, North Carolina and the Problem of AIDS.  In this book, Dr. Inrig discusses the disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS in Southern states and the social issues involved in the public's response.   We look forward to offering a fuller review of this work shortly.


Yellow Fever in the Panama Canal

posted Aug 17, 2011 9:03 PM by Andrew Degnan

In a newly released article, The Mosquito of High Crimes, Alexandra Freeman discusses the characterization of Yellow Fever and the control programs developed by the US government during the construction of the Panama canal, during 1904-1905.  This work explores the origins of the vector theory which emerged from this research. 

New book review of Different Truths

posted Aug 17, 2011 9:02 PM by Andrew Degnan



When tourists visit an exciting, fascinating locale, they inevitably take home postcards as memories of the places visited and people seen. One cannot help but notice how much more enamoring the destination appears on a glossy printed card than it did in person, no matter how illustrious the site. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine using postcards as a historical tool to discover the history of medicine in tribal cultures, but this feat is what Peter A.G.M. De Smet sets out to do in his bookDifferent Truths: Ethnomedicine in Early Postcards.

After amassing a collection of postcards from across the globe through everything from historical collections to online auctions, De Smet set out to analyze the content of the postcard and glean the elements of truth regarding what he terms ethnomedicine underlying the stereotyped postcards. He goes beyond mere rote cataloging and organizing of postcards to expound their significance and extricate the truth beyond the manipulation of photographers and postcard companies. The industry and the practice of tourists buying and collecting these postcards is an interesting topic aside from the main thrust of this interpreted collection and is a subject that the author devotes just enough effort to provide the reader with a fascinating understanding of where these postcards originated and who held onto them.

The beginnings of the anti-vaccination movement.

posted Apr 12, 2011 2:23 AM by Andrew Degnan

In a new article by Joseph Fitchett and David Heymann, the 19th century anti-smallpox vaccination movement in Britain is explored.  The authors show vividly the principles behind anti-vaccination societies through the use of primary documents and illustrated by marginalia deriding Edward Jenner's work.  In a modern time in which anti-vaccination movements are just as prominent, it is important to understand how current movements differed from these early movements in England.  Read more in the article here


The Dead Ringer: Medicine, Poe, and the fear of premature burial.

posted Dec 22, 2010 6:05 PM by Andrew Degnan


In this newly released article, Christopher Dibble, an MD/PhD student at UNC explores a little discussed topic - the fear of premature burial - that even persists to this day. Although we no longer use safety coffins with escape mechanisms or have bells attached by strings to the fingers of the dead, this article reminds us of the insidious fear of being declared dead, yet not quite so.  This article explores the reasonable explanation for the fear of premature burial, particularly during the time of Edgar Allen Poe.
Read the article here.

Submit to Historia Medicinae.

posted Jul 26, 2010 6:51 AM by Andrew Degnan

We welcome all students in the health professions and history to submit innovative articles on topics related to the history of medicine.  We hope to put out new submissions over the course of August and September.  All submissions go through peer-review and two rounds of revision so be sure to submit articles early.  If you have any questions, please e-mail editor@medicinae.org.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Different Truths: Ethnomedicine in Early Postcards.

posted May 6, 2010 2:39 PM by Andrew Degnan


Historia medicinae  recently received this book for review.  It provides a unique perspective and pictorial look into the practice of medicine in other cultures often not covered in the history of medicine.  A greater appreciation of these cultures and their treatment of illness can be gained from this new text by Professor Peter de Smet. A more detailed review to come soon.

Different Truths: Ethnomedicine in Early Postcards
Peter A.G.M. de Smet
ISBN:9789460220173
Retail: 49.95 (USD), 34.50 (euro)

Journal now indexed with Index Copernicus

posted Feb 16, 2010 4:13 AM by Andrew Degnan   [ updated Feb 17, 2010 8:53 PM ]

Historia medicinae is now listed on the IndexCopernicus site.  We are currently in the process of adding abstracts to the listing to allow greater exposure to our authors' works.  In addition, we are in the process of getting articles indexed with Google Scholar.  With all of these steps we anticipate heightened awareness of the journal's presence and greater promulgation of our content.
 

The Influence of European Medical Texts on Colonial New England Medicine.

posted Jan 22, 2010 9:15 PM by Andrew Degnan

In this article, we learn about the impact of european medical literature on the lives and practice of colonial American physicians such as Drs. Thomas Williams and Elihu Ashley.  Rosemary Pollock guides the reader through the encounters of these particular colonial doctors with european advances in medicine and challenges the notion that colonial medicine operated without knowledge of european advances.  Included in this article are images of the medical books used by these doctors.

The Greeks May Have the Last Word but Who Has the First?

posted Jan 22, 2010 7:50 PM by Andrew Degnan

One often hears about the Greek and Latin origins of medical terminology, but what came before these classical languages?  Dr. Elliott Martin, a recent medical school graduate, utilizes his unique background in classical studies to explore the earliest origins of the Greek 'iatros' for physician.  Follow this path all the way back to the earliest recorded language in this most unique article available in the second issue of Historia medicinae. Read it here.

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