By Michael J. North Just over thirty years after the first printing press arrived in the New World from Spain, the first medical book was printed in Mexico City: Francisco Bravo’s Opera Medicinalia, published by Pedro Ocharte in 1570. While it is well within NLM’s mission to collect, preserve and give the world access to […]
October
27
Pure Food: FDA Notices of Judgment
posted by Circulating Now
Circulating Now welcomes Guest Blogger Dr. Suzanne Junod, a historian in the FDA History Office. In celebration of the completion of NLM’s digital archive of court case summaries published as the Food and Drugs Act Notices of Judgment, Dr. Junod offers a brief history of U.S. food and drug regulation and a use case for […]
October
22
How To… Kill Animals Humanely
posted by Circulating Now
By Michael Sappol Is empathy innate? Are we all born with the ability to identify with the emotions of others, to feel someone else’s pain? Today’s media is chock full of stories about experiments in neuroscience and child psychology that seem to show that the emergence and growth of the ability to empathize is a […]
October
15
The Death of Andreas Vesalius
posted by Circulating Now
By Michael J. North This year we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564) who is best known for changing how we do medical research with his groundbreaking book, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (Seven Chapters on the Structure of the Human Body), published in 1543 and generally known as […]
October
09
Midwives of St. Croix
posted by Circulating Now
By Alexsandra Mitchell Documents within the American College of Nurse-Midwives archival collection in the National Library of Medicine’s History of Medicine Division address the importance and history of the midwifery and nurse-midwife traditions. In this collection are a handful of items providing a unique Caribbean context for this subject; specifically the history of midwifery in […]
October
08
Early Latin American Medicine in the NLM Collections
posted by Circulating Now
Michael J. North spoke today at the National Library of Medicine in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month on “Early Latin American Medicine in the NLM Collections.” Mr. North is Head of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts in the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine. Circulating Now interviewed him about his work. […]
October
07
Male Midwives in Ethiopia
posted by Circulating Now
By Alexsandra Mitchell This photograph from our Images from the History of Medicine database (IHM), is one of many gems in our collection. This 1960s image shows a class of male medical assistants being trained in the sacred art of midwifery by Margaret Mitchell at the Haile Selassie Public Health College and Training Center in […]
October
02
Einstein: The Shy Genius
posted by Circulating Now
By Elizabeth Fee Once Einstein became famous, people would stop him in the street and cry out: “Professor Einstein!” He would say; “Oh yes, many people tell me I look just like him,” and walk on by. After his Nobel Prize, he was constantly being asked to speak in public and accept various awards. He […]
September
30
National Library of Medicine Now Part of The Commons on Flickr
posted by circulating now
By Ginny A. Roth The National Library of Medicine is pleased to announce its partnership with Flickr as a new member of The Commons. Public domain images from the History of Medicine Division’s historical collections are now accessible through The Commons on Flickr via a photostream, where visitors are encouraged to contribute information about images by adding comments and […]
September
25
A Mystery in Manuscripts
posted by Circulating Now
By James Labosier Among the History of Medicine’s manuscript collections rests a small group of letters and diaries from Army Surgeon Jonathan Letterman. However, these papers, donated to the Library in 1924 by Dr. Joseph T. Smith, Jr., a Baltimore physician and Letterman’s nephew, include two diaries which Letterman did not write. There is some […]
September
23
Andreas Vesalius in Stamps
posted by Circulating Now
By Michael J. North This year we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564) who is best known for changing how we do medical research with his groundbreaking book, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (Seven Chapters on the Structure of the Human Body), published in 1543 and generally known as […]
September
19
Actively Fighting Childhood Obesity
posted by circulating now
By Ginny A. Roth The rise in childhood obesity has been growing at an alarming rate. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Although steps need to be taken year–round to prevent childhood obesity, special […]
September
16
Preserving Nirenberg’s Genetic Code Chart
posted by Circulating Now
By Kristi Wright and Holly Herro The National Library of Medicine is home to a series of very important documents in scientific history—Marshall Nirenberg’s Genetic Code Charts. The charts contain original, handwritten data from experiments that determined how protein sequence was dictated by the sequence of precursor ribonucleic acids (RNAs). Conservators at NLM have been […]
September
12
A Poster to Pittsburgh
posted by Circulating Now
By Stephen Greenberg As a rule, items are included in the NLM’s History of Medicine Division collection because of their medical or, more broadly, their scientific significance. But the boundaries between science and art have always been porous, and an exhibition loan request from an art museum is not unusual. Recently, we were contacted by […]
September
10
Rare Footage of FDR at NIH
posted by Circulating Now
By Rebecca C. Warlow On October 31, 1940, just days before President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would be elected to an unprecedented third term as President of the United States, he traveled to Bethesda to dedicate the National Cancer Institute and the new campus of what was then the National Institute of Health (NIH), before it […]
September
04
A Voyage to Health, a Connection to Communities
posted by Circulating Now
By Alicia Yanagihara When you think of the National Library of Medicine, what comes to mind? Is it a Polynesian canoe? That definitely wasn’t my first thought either, yet South Pacific seafaring traditions have a connection to the National Library of Medicine. When I found out I would be interning at NLM in the History […]
September
02
Dr. Julia Hallam on Pictures of Nursing
posted by Circulating Now
Dr. Julia Hallam spoke today at the National Library of Medicine on “Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Postcard Collection.” Dr. Hallam is curator of NLM’s newest exhibition of the same name and a Reader in Film and Media at the University of Liverpool. Circulating Now interviewed her about her work. Circulating Now: Tell us a […]
September
02
Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Postcard Collection
posted by Circulating Now
By Erika Mills For over a century, images of nurses and nursing have been featured frequently as the subjects of postcards—so much so that nursing postcards offer a visual history of the profession and shine a light on the cultural values that inform perceptions of nurses. The imagery that decorates these mailers and mementos reflects […]
August
26
Medicine, Morality, Faith, and Film
posted by Circulating Now
By Sophie Lipman Religion and science, two concepts sometimes viewed as incompatible today, were seen by many in the 1930s and ‘40s as mutually supportive components for promoting the health of Americans. During a time of political and economic calamity—the conflict in Europe, the Depression at home—the nation’s health was threatened as well. Venereal disease, […]
August
21
Back to School with the Best of ‘Em
posted by Circulating Now
By Courtney Jefferies Around this time of the year, many of us, including myself, are preparing to go back to school. Throughout my summer internship in the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine, I have been delving into Profiles in Science—an online collection of historical manuscripts of twentieth century leaders in […]
August
18
A Remarkable Career in Psychiatry
posted by Circulating Now
In 2012 Dr. Lucy Ozarin was interviewed at the National Library of Medicine as part of an oral history project related to the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). In honor of our remarkable friend and colleague Circulating Now offers excerpts from that interview today on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Lucy […]
August
15
A Physician’s Perspective on the Russian Flu
posted by Circulating Now
In November 1889, a rash of cases of influenza-like-illness appeared in St. Petersburg, Russia. Soon, the “Russia Influenza” spread across Europe and the world. This outbreak is being researched by teams of Virginia Tech students as a case-study of the relationship between the spread of the disease and the spread of reporting about the disease. […]
August
13
The 1889 Russian Flu in the News
posted by Circulating Now
In November 1889, a rash of cases of influenza-like-illness appeared in St. Petersburg, Russia. Soon, the “Russia Influenza” spread across Europe and the world. This outbreak is being researched by teams of Virginia Tech students as a case-study of the relationship between the spread of the disease and the spread of reporting about the disease. […]
August
11
Mapping the 1889-1890 Russian Flu
posted by Circulating Now
In November 1889, a rash of cases of influenza-like-illness appeared in St. Petersburg, Russia. Soon, the “Russia Influenza” spread across Europe and the world. This outbreak is being researched by teams of Virginia Tech students as a case-study of the relationship between the spread of the disease and the spread of reporting about the disease. […]
August
07
A Call To Action to Prevent Skin Cancer
posted by circulating now
By Ginny A. Roth In the fun summer months, it is often difficult to remember that outdoor activities in the hot sun can cause serious damage to the skin. This 1997 French poster, “Le soleil peut être dangereux, travail ou loisirs, protégez-vous” (“The sun can be dangerous, at work or play, protect yourself”), published […]
August
05
Plastic Reconstruction of the Face, 1918
posted by Circulating Now
One hundred years ago, in August 1914, the powers of Europe embarked upon a calamitous war which resulted in the death, mutilation, and suffering of millions. This silent motion picture fragment from the collection of the National Library of Medicine documents the work of a small workshop in Paris where men with terribly disfiguring facial […]
July
29
The Question of Rest for Women
posted by Circulating Now
By Susan Speaker The Question of Rest for Women During Menstruation is an extended version of an essay that won Dr. Jacobi the Harvard Medical School’s esteemed Boylston Prize in 1876. It was a significant event, as Jacobi was the first woman ever to win the competition. Beyond that, however, the book gives us a […]
July
22
The “Wound Man” in Two Recent Acquisitions
posted by Circulating Now
By Margaret Kaiser The “wound man” was a most popular image, especially in early printed books. Pierced by a variety of weapons, he demonstrated the possible wounds and injuries a physician might be called on to treat. Two of the Library’s recent sixteenth century acquisitions have examples of the “wound man.” The first is from […]
July
18
Invasion from Mars? Microbes!
posted by Circulating Now
By Gregory Pike Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011, it’s easy to forget there was a time when America’s space program dominated the headlines. Born in the “fires” of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the U.S. space program became an exciting chapter in the race between […]
July
15
The Anatomy Acts and the Social Contract
posted by Circulating Now
Dr. Dale Smith spoke today at the National Library of Medicine on “Anatomy Acts and the Shaping of the American Medical Profession’s Social Contract.” Dr. Smith is a Professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Department of Military and Emergency Medicine. Circulating Now interviewed him about his work. Circulating Now: Tell us […]
July
10
Cartoons, Comedy, and Cancer in 1952
posted by Circulating Now
Circulating Now welcomes Guest Blogger David Cantor. Dr. Cantor has published on the histories of cancer, meat, medical film, and the after-life of Hippocrates, the father of medicine. His most recent book, co-edited with Edmund Ramsden, is Stress, Shock, and Adaptation in the Twentieth Century. When in 1952 the American Cancer Society (ACS) released the […]
July
08
Illustrating De Fabrica
posted by Circulating Now
By Michael J. North This year we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564) who is best known for changing how we do medical research with his groundbreaking book, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (Seven Chapters on the Structure of the Human Body), published in 1543 and generally known as […]
July
03
The Revolutionary who Discovered Radium
posted by Circulating Now
By Elizabeth Fee Albert Einstein said “I have always admired . . Marie Curie. Not only did she do outstanding work in her lifetime, and not only did she help humanity greatly by her work, but she invested all her work with the highest moral quality. All of this she accomplished with great strength, objectivity, […]
July
01
Circulating Now…Full Circle
posted by Circulating Now
Today is Circulating Now’s one year anniversary! Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our success in sharing with the world the amazing, diverse, and inspiring historical collections of the world’s largest biomedical library: Our committed staff, who collect, catalog, preserve, and interpret the collection Our brilliant staff authors and guests YOU! ~ our […]
June
27
Take the Test, Take Control
posted by circulating now
By Ginny A. Roth This 1995 poster, “You Are Not Alone,” from the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), attempts to quell the fear that was, and still is, deeply entrenched in getting tested for HIV. Since 1982, the GMHC has been a leader in HIV prevention, care, and advocacy. In this poster, they reached out […]
June
25
Kick Polio out of Nigeria
posted by circulating now
By Erika Mills During the World Cup, the globe is consumed by The Beautiful Game. Soccer is everywhere—even in public health messages! This poster encouraged parents to have their small children vaccinated against poliomyelitis during the 1998 National Immunization Days in Nigeria. It points out that a healthy child may grow up to play on […]
June
19
Hosting AOTUS: David S. Ferriero
posted by Circulating Now
By Jeffrey S. Reznick David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States (AOTUS), recently honored the National Library of Medicine with a visit to share his expertise and discuss common challenges and opportunities facing archives today. Mr. Ferriero oversees the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), “the nation’s record keeper” of an astonishingly diverse and […]
June
17
Losing the Miracle?
posted by Circulating Now
Maryn McKenna spoke today at the National Library of Medicine on “Losing the Miracle? Agriculture, the FDA, and the Controversy over Farm Antibiotics.” Ms. McKenna was recently named recipient of the 2013 Byron H. Waksman Award for Excellence in the Public Communication of Life Sciences and finalist for a James Beard Foundation Award. Circulating Now […]
June
12
Ground-Breaking Reflections: Melvin R. Laird
posted by Circulating Now
During the sunny and warm afternoon of June 12, 1959, dignitaries gathered on the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, to break ground for the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It was only a few years earlier that legislation proposed the transfer of the Library, then known as the Armed Forces […]
June
10
(Re)Discovering The Great War
posted by Circulating Now
By Simon Chaplin and Jeffrey S. Reznick Commemorations of the centenary anniversary of World War I have begun in countries around the world. For the next four years, and probably a few beyond that, interest in the “war to end all wars” will reach a height not seen since the fiftieth anniversary of the conflict. […]
June
06
Dr. Swan writes from Normandy, 1944
posted by Circulating Now
By Susan Speaker “Operation Overlord”—the invasion of France’s Normandy coast that began on June 6, 1944—was the largest amphibious military operation in the history of warfare, and the turning point for the Allied Forces in World War II. Among the thousands of troops that waded onto the beaches, there were over forty surgical teams from […]
June
04
How To…See with the Microscope
posted by Circulating Now
By Michael Sappol Microscopy was the coming thing in late 19th-century medicine. If you were an ambitious doctor, no matter what your field of interest, you probably wanted to own a good microscope, and apply it to the questions at hand. What do the structures of human and non-human bodies look like? How does that […]
May
30
Autism and Alzheimer’s on the Web
posted by Circulating Now
By Maureen Harlow Capturing websites and keeping copies of them for the future to represent how they looked and what they said at a certain moment in time (“web collecting”) is an important activity for cultural heritage institutions because so much of our lives is now conducted online. Whereas in earlier decades, people regularly kept […]
May
26
The Spirit of Memorial Day
posted by Circulating Now
By Kenneth M. Koyle The origin of the Memorial Day observance in America is disputed, with several states and communities claiming primacy as the first to hold an official celebration or first to place a holiday on the books, but we know that it began in the years following the U.S. Civil War. Decoration Day, […]
May
22
Remembering Clyde Snow, 1928–2014
posted by Circulating Now
By Erika Mills and Elizabeth A. Mullen Poring over bones left in mass graves and clandestine burial sites, seeking answers that might shed light on some of the darkest episodes in recent history, Clyde Snow made it his life’s work to unearth the truth. The celebrated forensic anthropologist exhumed and examined the skeletal remains of […]
