Academic literature on the topic 'Medicine – Historiography'

This article tries to identify the theory of medical history in the work of Richard Koch (1882-1949). Rejecting the wide-spread notion of medicine as a science he vigorously argued for a self-image of medicine as an art. From that point of view he built up his theory of medical history and historiography. He wanted medical historiography to be part of practical medicine.

- The article addresses the issue of the relation between historiography and the political debate. It examines the historiographic works concerning the events which lead to the emergence of the State of Israel between 1947 and 1949 as one of the key-periods in the history of the contemporary Middle East. In particular, the analysis focuses on the debate originating in the mid 1980s on the revision of traditional Israeli historiography undertaken by the so-called ‘New Historians', of whom Benny Morris is a leading representative. By drawing on the notion of the ‘public use of history, the author reverses the perspective, showing how the academic debate itself is characterised by strongly polemical aspects. The historiographic research on 1948, to which the works of the New Historians provide the latest significant contribution in terms of analysis of new sources, constitutes a firmer knowledge than the tones of the debate would suggest. Key words: public use of history, Israel, New Israeli Historians, first Arab-Israeli war, Palestine, Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

L’écriture de l’histoire a toujours été une discipline reine dans la Chine impériale, et elle a notamment donné lieu à la production d’un corpus encyclopédique constitué de vingt-six histoires dynastiques officielles. Notre thèse a pour but de fournir une étude de la place occupée par la médecine et les médecins dans ce corpus. Rédigés selon un modus operandi très particulier, les documents examinés consistent essentiellement en des biographies, complètes ou partielles, d’experts en médecine (yi 醫). Nous savons aujourd’hui que ces textes étaient plus prescriptifs que descriptifs, et qu’ils ne sauraient être utilisés comme seule source pour une étude historique sérieuse. La question est alors de déterminer comment tirer le meilleur parti de la mine d’informations qu’ils mettent à disposition du chercheur. Pour répondre à cette question, nous proposons d’abord une étude synthétique de l’écriture de l’histoire en Chine, de ses genres, et plus particulièrement du genre biographique, pour ensuite étudier de manière statistique et analytique la place de la médecine dans les histoires dynastiques. La deuxième partie de notre travail se plonge plus spécifiquement dans l’étude des cent quarante-deux biographies de médecins contenues dans le corpus : après avoir décrit, classé et analysé l’ensemble de leur contenu, nous exposons l’usage qu’il est possible de faire de ces informations dans les trois domaines que sont l’histoire des textes, l’histoire sociale et l’histoire de la médecine
Historiography has always been a major discipline in Imperial China, producing among other works the encyclopedic corpus known as the Twenty-Six Standard Histories. This dissertation aims at examining the place dedicated to medicine and physicians in this corpus. Written following a very specific modus operandi, the Standard Histories provide the readers numerous biographies of experts in medicine (yi 醫). As we know today, these texts were more prescriptive than descriptive, and one should not base any serious historical study of medicine on these sources alone. The question then is how to make the most out of the large amount of information they bring to scholarly attention. To answer this question, I first propose a synthetic overview of historical writings in China, of the textual genres to which they belong, with a special focus on the biographical genre, and then undertake a statistic and analytic study of the place dedicated to medicine in Chinese historical records. The second part of the dissertation deals more specifically with the one hundred and forty-two biographies of physicians contained in the Standard Histories: after having identified, classified and analyzed all of their contents, I set out the uses that can be made of this huge piece of information in the fields of textual criticism, social history, and the history of medicine

This thesis expands upon the notion that Thucydides’ plague narrative in his History of the Peloponnesian War punctuates his argument for the unique greatness of the Peloponnesian War. Through the plague, Thucydides displays the collapse of Greek society’s standards and practices. He does this by describing a plague which does not conform to 5th century BCE Greek medical ideas. Balance, human art, and divine intervention all fail in their attempts to restore the health of the individual and society. Thucydides portrays the plague as a narrative aggressor whose intent is to topple Athens and its ideals. Lucretius’ plague narrative, because it narrates the same historical moment but from a different perspective, is then discussed in order to demonstrate how other authors have used Thucydides’ technique.

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This research analyses the pathway taken by nine black students who, from 1935 to 1964, joined at Medicine School Of the University of São Paulo, having concluded the medicine course. It emphasizes the opposition to the invisibility suffered by black people in the brasilian historiography which does not have concerned the presence and experience of black students in educational and academic institutions during the twentieth Century. The Medicine and Surgery School of São Paulo, created in 1913, represented to the local economic elite a milestone to the modernization of São Paulo City, being its diploma a significative document of study and professional success , representing a high degree of social distinction to whom took it. Based on analysis of student files, the pathways are investigated in order to verify for what ways and with what difficults these students took access to the Medicine School. It is considered as a relevant historical factor in the analysis, the increase of the opportunities of access to the secondary school and high education occured in that period, which changes its social composition. This research takes as references the concepts developed by Barth, of ethnicity or ethnic identity, constituteds through the interaction among groups from exclusion and inclusion process; and by Bourdieu, of social space, which approaches the homologies between the educational practices and social system
Nesta pesquisa são analisadas as trajetórias escolares de nove alunos negros que, entre os anos de 1935 e 1964, ingressaram na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e concluíram o curso médico. Investe-se na contraposição à invisibilidade dos negros na historiografia da educação brasileira, que tem desconsiderado a presença e a experiência de estudantes negros em instituições escolares e acadêmicas ao longo do século XX. A Faculdade de Medicina e Cirurgia de São Paulo, criada em 1913, representou para a elite econômica local um marco na modernização da cidade de São Paulo, sendo o seu diploma um documento significativo de sucesso escolar e profissional, que representava um grau elevado de distinção social aos seus possuidores. Mediante análise de prontuários, investigam-se as trajetórias escolares desses alunos a fim de verificar por quais percursos e com que dificuldades tiveram acesso à Faculdade de Medicina. É considerado como fator histórico relevante na análise, o aumento das oportunidades de acesso ao nível secundário e superior ocorrida no período, o que alterou sua composição social. Tomam-se como referenciais os conceitos de Barth sobre etnia ou identidade étnica, constituídos na interação entre grupos sociais mediante processos de exclusão e inclusão; e de Bourdieu sobre espaço social, que trata das homologias entre as práticas escolares e o sistema social

L’historiographie de l’alimentation dans le monde romain a connu ces dernières années un développement considérable. Parmi la multitude de domaines qu’elle recouvre, la médecine représente un vaste champ à explorer tant les interactions avec le monde des cuisiniers sont importantes. La diététique antique s’intéresse de près au choix des aliments, à leur préparation et aux modalités de leur consommation. L’héritage d’Hippocrate dans ce domaine est largement repris par Galien ainsi que par d’autres médecins, encyclopédistes et moralistes d’époque impériale. L’un des enjeux de cette étude est d’abord de définir la meilleure façon de cuisiner et de manger sain pour la médecine, après avoir envisagé les hiérarchies alimentaires de la diététique. L’analyse des critères de choix de la nourriture, des règles pour la cuisiner, du goût qui en résulte doit permettre de mieux comprendre dans quelle mesure la cuisine définie par les médecins correspond à celle appréciée par les gourmets. Le croisement des sources médicales avec les sources littéraires de natures variées (satiriques, romanesques, épistolaires, biographiques) conduira ensuite à évaluer le degré de pénétration des principes de la diététique dans les mentalités et dans les pratiques alimentaires au sein de la société romaine. Les différentes étapes du repas romain peuvent être analysées à la lumière des textes médicaux pour déceler l’influence de l’enseignement des médecins. Au-delà des enjeux diététiques, manger sain relève d’enjeux moraux, culturels et sociaux qu’il convient d’analyser pour déterminer l’articulation entre l’idéal de l’homme romain et le comportement alimentaire. Néanmoins, cuisiner et manger sain dans l’Empire romain n’est pas univoque. Il convient d’envisager également la diversité géographique et sociale par le biais des différentes sources. Les attitudes face aux contraintes du régime peuvent également être contrastées et conduire à la transgression des normes élaborées par la diététique
This thesis is about Food and Medicine in Ancient Rome. Food has been a more and more important matter of study for a couple of years. The aristocratic banquet is very often the main point of attention of historians, ancient texts are above all dealing with the upper classes of society. Some aspects like the values of the banquet and sociability, or the composition of the meals, are highlighted. But one domain is very often left aside : the links between food and medicine. Medical treatises are very interesting to study because food is one of the most important aspects of ancient medicine. Dietetics is considered as one of the three main fields of ancient medicine with surgery and pharmacology. Dietetics doesn’t include just food but it is more generally the way of life, and also involves physical exercices for example or sleep. Food, indeed, can be considered as a medicine and a way to protect health and to prevent illness. The most important author on this subject is Galen, a famous doctor from the 2nd century AD, who follows the Hippocratic tradition, but other doctors from the Roman period also have to be considered like Oribasius or Anthimus who lived during the Late Antiquity. Medical theories from Antiquity are well known and studied, so it would be interesting to determine how they can impact food preparation and consumption, but also how ancient recipes could influence medical prescriptions. Medical treatises, texts containing references to food, but also archaeology have to be compared, to see if populations during the Roman Empire respected these prescriptions when they ate. This work will try to show if we can observe an impact on the population’s habits and health, and finally if we can speak of a dietary awareness

Cette étude se propose d’étudier la réception de la nouvelle de la victoire de Lépante dans le grand-duché de Toscane sous le règne de Côme Ier et la transformation de l’événement d’actualité en objet historique, inscrit dans l’historiographie officielle médicéenne. La participation de la flotte toscane à la Sainte Ligue de Lépante en 1571 s’inscrit dans un contexte particulier de crise diplomatique avec le roi d’Espagne Philippe II de Habsbourg, dont la Toscane est un État vassal et dont l’autorité est de plus en plus contestée par les Médicis. Côme Ier de Médicis a vu aboutir les projets de son ambitieuse politique navale en 1560 avec la création de l’Ordre militaire marin de Santo Stefano, de sa politique dynastique en 1569 avec l’obtention, par le pape Pie V, du titre héréditaire grand-ducal, accompagné d’un contrat de collaboration militaire pour l’Ordre. La présence de la Toscane, sous la bannière pontificale, dans une coalition aussi prestigieuse que la Sainte Ligue, qui réunit Venise, l’Espagne et le pape, devrait constituer une occasion privilégiée de renforcer le discours de légitimation du principat médicéen. En effet, la victoire de Lépante constitue un événement au sens traditionnel du terme, c’est-à-dire un fait politico-militaire inattendu, éclatant, dont les représentations d’actualité cristallisent les enjeux diplomatiques du moment et dont les célébrations permettent de mettre en scène le pouvoir : plus que l’antagonisme, c’est la qualité de l’alliance qu’on lui oppose qui fait sens dans les récits et les images de Lépante. Pourtant, en Toscane, on n’assiste pas à une production aussi riche, féconde, variée et durable qu’ailleurs en Italie, notamment à Venise ou à Rome. Fidèle à sa tendance de fond qui préfère aux revendications ouvertes la discrétion et la prudence, le discours médicéen raconte une victoire de Lépante ambigüe, nuancée, comme une voix discordante au cœur du concert de célébrations qui suivent l’événement, dépassant le simple clivage des catégories de victoire et de défaite. Les représentations toscanes puisent leur matière même dans les correspondances militaires et diplomatiques des acteurs de la bataille : ils écrivent juste après l’avènement des faits, observent avec lucidité les graves disfonctionnements au sein de la Sainte Ligue, rendent compte de leur expérience concrète de la guerre et des lourdes pertes subies par l’Ordre au cours des combats. La nouvelle et les détails de la victoire se diffusent très largement grâce à une nouvelle forme éditoriale, les avvisi a stampa, des publications occasionnelles qui racontent et célèbrent la victoire. Celles qui sont publiées en Toscane révèlent des choix éditoriaux particuliers : l’imprimerie officielle grand-ducale semble vouloir ménager les susceptibilités en diffusant des versions canoniques pontificales ou espagnoles du déroulement des événements, qui ignorent la participation toscane, tandis que des récits plus favorables aux Toscans sont publiés par des typographes d’importance secondaire. Dans un troisième temps, l’événement s’inscrit dans l’historiographie officielle du régime grand-ducal ; la bataille de Lépante est traitée comme une « semi-victoire » dans un chapitre de l’Istoria de’ suoi tempi de Giovambattista Adriani, l’histoire officielle du règne de Côme ; en revanche, elle fait l’objet d’une célébration triomphale dans un cycle de fresques de Giorgio Vasari réalisé dans la Sala Regia du palais apostolique du Vatican. En effet, Côme renonce à faire représenter la victoire de Lépante à Florence, au Palazzo Vecchio, comme nombre de ses hauts faits militaires, pour envoyer l’artiste officiel de l’État opérer au service du pape, comme ambassadeur du prestige culturel de Florence : pour servir l’État , les arts seraient, en somme, bien plus efficaces que les armes
This dissertation focuses on how the news of the victory of the battle of Lepanto was received and dealt with under the rule of Cosimo I de’ Medici in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. This approach will then highlight that, from piece of news to historical information, this event was in fact transformed and discussed by the official Medicean historiography. The Tuscan fleet joined the Holy League in 1571. This coincides with a diplomatic crisis which crystallized the Medici’s contesting the authority of King Philip II of Spain over the vassal state of Tuscany. Cosimo I de’ Medici’s ambitious naval policy led to the creation, in 1560, of the Sacred Military Order of St Stephen and when, in 1569, Pope Pius V granted him the title of Grand Duke on the grounds of hereditary right, along with a military agreement to support the Order, his dynastic policy was finally asserted. The papal banner acknowledged a prestigious alliance between the Republic of Venice, Spain and the Pope. Being part of this Holy League offered Tuscany an opportunity to legitimate the Medicean princedom. The Battle of Lepanto may be considered as an event, that is to say, an unexpected military and political fact. The representations of this brilliant victory epitomize the diplomatic stakes of the time and the way the event was celebrated highlights its power issues. In fact, in the narratives and images of the Battle, what prevails is the strength of the alliance and not what it stood up against. Yet, works dedicated to the Battle in Tuscany were not as diverse and lasting as in other parts of Italy such as Rome and Venice. Medicean historians and artists gave a nuanced version of the Battle, mirroring a general trend of discretion. Their voices thus disrupted the harmonious celebrations which came after the event and challenged the dichotomy of victory versus defeat. Tuscan representations of the event drew their inspiration from an archival material made of diplomatic and military letters. Just off the battlefield, the protagonists of the combat put their experience down into words. They exposed that the Holy League was seriously dysfunctional and gave a first-hand testimony of the war and of how heavy the losses were for the Order. The news of the victory, but also its details, quickly and widely spread thanks to avvisi a stampa, a new editorial practice consisting in occasional publications extolling the grandeur of the victory. This thesis contends that the publications in Tuscany were ruled by a particular editorialist choice. In fact, it appears that the grand-ducal official press remained neutral and published mainly canonical versions of the Battle, praising both the papal and Spanish roles, but which overlooked the Tuscan participation, whereas narratives extolling the Tuscan input in the battle were handled by minor typographers. Furthermore the event made its way into the official historiography of the grand dukedom. In a chapter from Giovambattista Adriani’s Istoria de’ suoi tempi, which relates the official history of Cosimo’s rule, the Battle of Lepanto is described as a "semi-victory". On the other hand, it was treated as a grand victory by Giorgio Vasari in the series of frescos he painted for the Sala Regia in the Vatican palace. As a matter of fact, Cosimo, instead of having the Battle, and many other of his military feats, commemorated in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, decided to send the official artist of the State to the Vatican as a cultural ambassador. Arts seemed a better way to serve the State than weapons

This dissertation examines the role of scientific and medical disciplines in the construction of homosexuality in Mexico, and how non-normative gender and sexual subjects engaged in political activism, body modifications, and aesthetic production to challenge the pathologizing discourses reinforced by the increasing authority of the biomedical sciences. Chapter 1 examines the role of photography as a medical instrument in the first documented sex-reassignment treatment in the Western Hemisphere performed by Mexican physician and sexologist Rafael Sandoval Camacho in the early 1950s, and how his patient Marta Olmos, Mexico’s first transsexual woman, embraced photojournalism as a medium to document, archive, and validate her identity as a woman. In chapter 2, I examine the popular phenomenon of publishing photographs of erotized trans sex workers known as Mujercitos during the 1970s in Alarma!, Mexico’s most influential crime tabloid magazine, and how these marginalized subjects appropriated biomedical technologies like “sex hormones” intended to regulate gender and sexual deviance to construct bodily identities that challenged the medical and criminological positions on the essentialist natures of gender expression, sexual desire, and the sexed body. Chapter 3 examines the early gay narrative of Luis Zapata and José Rafael Calva that emerged in conjunction to Mexico’s Homosexual Liberation Movement in the late 1970s. My analysis demonstrates how Zapata’s El vampiro de la colonia Roma [Adonis García: A Picaresque Novel] (1979), and Calva’s Utopía gay [Gay Utopia] (1983) present sharp critiques shared by Mexico’s homosexual liberation groups on the growing authority of disciplines like psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and biomedicine in pathologizing homosexuality. Chapter 4 examines the changing understandings of homosexuality, homosexual desire, and the homosexual body during the HIV/AIDS crisis through the work of Julio Galán, Nahum B. Zenil, and art collective Taller Documentación Visual. My analysis presents the role of the HIV virus not as an explicit visual reference but rather as an elusive, spectral, and dangerous entity that is identifiable through the aesthetic and formal composition of the artists’ works, best exemplified by the references to condoms as physical and symbolic devices in the mediation of gay sexual contact and desire. This dissertation demonstrates the critical roles of biomedicine, criminology, sexology, and psychiatry in regulating diverse forms of Mexican homosexualities, while simultaneously functioning as liminal disciplines strategically adopted by homosexual subjects to redefine, shape, and validate their desired bodily, sexual, and subjective identities.