J Med Biogr
· 2025 Aug · PMID 40856055
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Sir John Floyer (1649-1734) was an English physician and author, notable for developing the pulse watch, advancing understanding of asthma pathophysiology, the first pathological description of emphysema and as an advoca...Sir John Floyer (1649-1734) was an English physician and author, notable for developing the pulse watch, advancing understanding of asthma pathophysiology, the first pathological description of emphysema and as an advocate of coldwater bathing. In 1702, he published a book with Edward Baynard MD (c1641-1717) on coldwater bathing. Therein, a postscript to a letter by Baynard describes a controlled trial of water therapy using two boys of 'near of a Speed and Strength' to race 100 yards. After immersing the loser in cold water, the race should be re-run. Now the immersed loser emerges as victor. Textual evidence suggests that its author was Floyer rather than Baynard. That the experiment took place is implied by Floyer's certainty in its outcome. It may have served as an 'exhibition' to promote his coldwater treatment. Floyer does not appear to repeat his controlled trial in his other books. He does, however, record basic observational comparisons of the effects of age, sex, diet, and month upon pulse rate. He also places data in basic tables and recognises normal variability ('latitude') in pulse rate. By linking ranges of pulse rate to clinical outcome, Floyer's work envisions modern clinical decision-making tools.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 40853637
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The aim of this article is to investigate the professional, corporate and scientific career of the Girona surgeon José Pascual y Prats (1854-1931). His work at the Provincial Hospital of Santa Catalina in Girona and as d...The aim of this article is to investigate the professional, corporate and scientific career of the Girona surgeon José Pascual y Prats (1854-1931). His work at the Provincial Hospital of Santa Catalina in Girona and as dean of the provincial charitable medical corps should be highlighted, as should his presidency of the province's medical associations, and his creation and direction of the bulletins of both organisations, as well as his promotion of the . Therefore, his biography allows us to consider three fundamental aspects of medical science during the Spain of the Restoration: associations, press and bibliography. At the same time, he maintained epistolary contacts with his family and friends, as well as with different representatives of the social elites of Girona and the Catalan and Spanish medical oligarchy. In short, Pascual was the most important physician of this period in the city and one of the most remarkable health professionals of contemporary Catalonia.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 40289615
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In a diverse career Sibson performed some of the earliest saline infusions for cholera, some of the first experiments with curare and its possible use in rabies and he was among the first British authors to distinguish b...In a diverse career Sibson performed some of the earliest saline infusions for cholera, some of the first experiments with curare and its possible use in rabies and he was among the first British authors to distinguish between typhoid and typhus. He published on respiratory physiology and mechanisms of respiration and on the anatomy of the chest and abdominal viscera including the changes caused by movement and disease. He investigated the use of ether and chloroform to treat neuralgia, probably practised surgical anaesthesia and sat on a commission investigating the safety of chloroform. His interests later changed to cardiac disease, especially pericarditis, endocarditis and aortic aneurysms. His membership of medical societies led to an involvement in medical politics, such as the conditions of service of army and poor law doctors, the sale of arsenic, reform of the membership of the General Medical Council and which was an early and very successful attempt at the classification of diseases. He was invited to give evidence to a Royal Commission on vivisection and sat on several government committees and enquiries including the siting and design of infectious diseases and Poor Law hospitals and the Metropolitan District Asylums Board.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 40289603
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During the Middle Ages, one of the most renowned South Indian kingdoms, the Vijayanagar Empire, saw significant developments in a number of fields, including healthcare and medicine. The empire's cosmopolitan nature, wit...During the Middle Ages, one of the most renowned South Indian kingdoms, the Vijayanagar Empire, saw significant developments in a number of fields, including healthcare and medicine. The empire's cosmopolitan nature, with numerous ethnic groups and cultural exchanges, helped to shape a rich medical culture influenced by Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and local native medical practices. The Vijayanagar Empire's medical practices left a lasting legacy that influenced further developments in South Indian medicine. By studying this era of medical history, we gain helpful insights into the intersection of culture, society and healthcare, which contributes to our grasp of the evolution of medicine in the Indian subcontinent. Specialization in certain diseases or practices was prevalent, and the physicians enjoyed a high status and respect in society.
J Med Biogr
· 2025 Feb · PMID 39957069
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Francis Home (1719-1813) was a Scottish physician and medical author. Here we consider his biography and three brief accounts of experiments on viper (i.e. adder flesh) broth in the treatment of skin disease ('Herpes or...Francis Home (1719-1813) was a Scottish physician and medical author. Here we consider his biography and three brief accounts of experiments on viper (i.e. adder flesh) broth in the treatment of skin disease ('Herpes or Lepra Gracaeorum'). After a fortnight of treatment one patient was improved but not cured (discontinued due to lack of vipers), one 'almost cured' but refused further treatment at 'disgust' of discovering its contents, and one dismissed cured. The second case constitutes a basic 'cross-over' model as it led to comparison of viper with snail broth in the same patient. Home concluded that viper broth was beneficial for skin disease but his findings did not lead to wider adoption of the treatment. His reported clinical benefits likely arose from improved hydration, protein and cessation of other treatments. Home does not discuss his small sample size or present quantitative outcomes. Home's methods were not influenced by Lind's (1753) methodology for comparing treatments. As both were Edinburgh-trained Scots who served in the British military forces, this reveals the limited communication between clinicians of the day. Home appears to have faced many practical challenges, including accessing vipers, motivating patients' participation and the risk of concomitant treatment with other drugs.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 39943867
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Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869) was an Irish surgeon celebrated in his home city. Born in Waterford in Ireland, he apprenticed under his father, an apothecary, before undertaking the London College of Surgeons examinati...Thomas Lewis Mackesy (1790-1869) was an Irish surgeon celebrated in his home city. Born in Waterford in Ireland, he apprenticed under his father, an apothecary, before undertaking the London College of Surgeons examination in 1809. Successful, he trained as an assistant surgeon before joining the Royal Artillery. After several years, he returned to his native city, where he worked at the Leper and Fanning hospitals as a surgeon, and married the first of three wives in 1813. Sadly, she died only five years later, leaving two young sons. In subsequent years, Mackesy continued practising medicine but extended his scope to politics and social causes. He became mayor of Waterford in 1841 and worked as both a magistrate and Poor Law guardian, focusing on public health. He received recognition for his work, being the first doctor outside Dublin to be elected president of the RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland). Trinity College Dublin also awarded him an honorary degree, earning him the title M.D. honoris causa. Thomas Lewis Mackesy died on the 8th of April 1869 from complications of kidney disease. A blue plaque commemorating his life and influence can today be found on Lady Lane, in Waterford city.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39925081
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Isaac al-Israelī (died early ninth century AD) was a Jewish physician. He is known for writing important works in many different fields such as medicine, philosophy, pharmacology, botany, and Jewish theology. He was a co...Isaac al-Israelī (died early ninth century AD) was a Jewish physician. He is known for writing important works in many different fields such as medicine, philosophy, pharmacology, botany, and Jewish theology. He was a court physician as the chief physician during the rule of the Aghlebids and Fatimids in North Africa. He ensured the systematization and institutionalization of the first medical school established in Qayrawān under the name of Bayt al-Hikma. Israelī was considered an authority in the field of medicine in Qayrawān and is known for his major works in this field. Many of his works were translated into Latin, Hebrew, English and Spanish over time and were first translated into Latin by Constantinus Africanus (died 1082 AD) in 1082. Thanks to these translations, Israel's medical works reached Europe via Sicily and were used as textbooks in the medical school of Salerno (The Schola Medica Salernitana). Moreover, his works continued to be taught with interest in many European universities until the 17th century.In this study, the contributions of a Jewish scholar who continued his medical career in the Islamic development of medicine in North Africa, and in the establishment of a medical school there.
Karatsi P, Tzouveleki MM, Karpouzis A
… +1 more, Papavramidou N
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 39925042
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Xavier Landerer was a distinguished German Professor of Natural Sciences who studied the composition of thermal waters and promoted their medicinal use in Greece during the nineteenth century. His authorial work was real...Xavier Landerer was a distinguished German Professor of Natural Sciences who studied the composition of thermal waters and promoted their medicinal use in Greece during the nineteenth century. His authorial work was really innovative on a worldwide scale and he is considered a pioneer in studying thermal waters and disseminating their beneficial properties.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 May · PMID 39925040
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Karl Jarmer was the first professor of dentistry at the Medical Academy in Dresden (Germany). This article chronicles his life, his professional challenges, and the impact of his work, illustrated by theses, articles, bo...Karl Jarmer was the first professor of dentistry at the Medical Academy in Dresden (Germany). This article chronicles his life, his professional challenges, and the impact of his work, illustrated by theses, articles, books, and original sources from the archives of the Dresden University of Technology's Medical Faculty. His career encompassed a range of experiences, from running a private practice in Stettin to specializing in oral surgery. After serving in the First World War, his academic journey began with the completion of his dental license and doctorate in 1921. Later, he worked at the universities of Greifswald and Kiel before being appointed to the Chair of Dentistry in Dresden in 1954. His appointment triggered a professional rivalry with Johann Alexander Vogelsang, a key figure in Dresden's maxillofacial care, due to conflicting views on academic leadership. Jarmer made significant contributions to the development of dental education in Dresden and played an important role in shaping Dentistry at the young Medical Academy Dresden. Jarmer remained active in academic circles until his retirement in 1963. He died in 1983.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39849990
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The history of medicine as a component of the medical school curriculum has been a long-standing subject of debate and controversy. Ultimately, local factors may determine this experience and be aligned with or outside o...The history of medicine as a component of the medical school curriculum has been a long-standing subject of debate and controversy. Ultimately, local factors may determine this experience and be aligned with or outside of the curriculum. The opportunity at Tulane University School of Medicine is long-standing and successful. It came to fruition through the efforts of Benjamin Bernard Weinstein, MD. A native New Orleanian, he received his undergraduate (1933) and medical (1937) degrees from Tulane as well as his training in obstetrics and gynaecology. He then joined the faculty and remained there until 1953 when he entered private practice with an interest in reproductive medicine. Weinstein was internationally known in the field, travelling the globe as a prominent educator and intersecting with world leaders. But his passion was the Tulane History of Medicine Society, founded by Weinstein in 1933 as a medical student. He became its guiding force and benefactor and built the foundation that remains highly relevant and successful 91 years later with a lengthy list of distinguished Weinstein Lecturers annually. Following his death in 1974, his family has continued to engage and support the Society. Weinstein's legacy of an enriched life through the study and knowledge of the history of medicine continues through the Society.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39835334
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Annie Dodge Wauneka was an activist and public servant whose decades long career focused extensively on improving the welfare of the Navajo Community. She campaigned to increase education among those living on the Navajo...Annie Dodge Wauneka was an activist and public servant whose decades long career focused extensively on improving the welfare of the Navajo Community. She campaigned to increase education among those living on the Navajo Reservation through working on the Tribal Council, completing personal visits, and producing educational material to improve hygiene. Annie's biggest fight was against tuberculosis. By bridging old traditions with new medicine, Annie encouraged people to seek treatment from hospitals and remain there throughout treatment. This reduced mortality significantly while closing the health disparity that existed between Native populations and the United States collectively.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39784148
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Marcello Malpighi, renowned as the founder of microscopic anatomy, faced many challenges throughout his life. Among these was his frail health, which deteriorated in his early 40s when he developed kidney stones. He stru...Marcello Malpighi, renowned as the founder of microscopic anatomy, faced many challenges throughout his life. Among these was his frail health, which deteriorated in his early 40s when he developed kidney stones. He struggled with arthritic pain and heart palpitations, which, along with his renal condition, gradually became worse as he got older. His clinical history and autopsy findings also suggest he may have suffered from hypertension, a disease unknown in the seventeenth century. Toward the end, his declining health was complicated by cardiovascular failure. After he died from a stroke, his mortal remains lay unburied for months due to a dispute over the ownership of the burial place. They were finally entombed but relocated multiple times over the next three centuries. An examination of the bones currently housed in his memorial, conducted on the tercentenary of his birth and critically revisited years later, raised doubts about their authenticity. In this paper, I review the causes of Malpighi's poor health and death and delve into the intriguing story of his mortal remains.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39773283
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Marcello Malpighi is widely recognized as the founder of microscopic anatomy. His seminal discoveries of the pulmonary alveoli, blood capillaries, and renal glomeruli revolutionized existing medical knowledge, earning hi...Marcello Malpighi is widely recognized as the founder of microscopic anatomy. His seminal discoveries of the pulmonary alveoli, blood capillaries, and renal glomeruli revolutionized existing medical knowledge, earning him fame and international recognition. He discovered the respiratory system of insects and described, for the first time, their excretory apparatus. He laid the foundations of modern embryology by characterizing the early stages of organ development in the chick embryo and was among the first to study the anatomy and biology of plants. Malpighi also faced family challenges, including his younger brother's involvement in a homicide, and relentless attacks by followers of traditional medicine. The purpose of this paper is to revisit Malpighi's extraordinary life and works, focusing on his struggles with detractors, who questioned the usefulness of his microscopic observations and resisted the new ideas of modern medicine.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39764601
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Eugène Hertoghe (1860-1928), a Belgian internist and former vice-president of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of chronic hypothyroidism. He prov...Eugène Hertoghe (1860-1928), a Belgian internist and former vice-president of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of chronic hypothyroidism. He provided a detailed clinical description of the condition, emphasizing its multisystemic manifestations and hereditary aspects. Hertoghe also documented the therapeutic use of thyroid extract, reporting its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of hypothyroidism. Among his contributions, he described the "Hertoghe sign," a rare clinical feature characterized by the loss of the outer third of the eyebrows, commonly associated with myxoedema, as well as with cases of toxic poisoning, infections, and atopic dermatitis.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39764594
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This article explores the life and work of Dr Caroline F. Hamilton, one of the pioneering female physicians sent from the USA to the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century. Over a career spanning three decades, Hamilton...This article explores the life and work of Dr Caroline F. Hamilton, one of the pioneering female physicians sent from the USA to the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century. Over a career spanning three decades, Hamilton provided critical medical care, especially to women, at the Azariah Smith Memorial Hospital in Aintab, overcoming legal, cultural, and political obstacles to become one of the first women licensed to practise medicine in the region. Her contributions, particularly in treating Muslim women who had limited access to male doctors, were significant in advancing healthcare in a conservative society. Hamilton's role extended beyond direct patient care, she also trained local health workers, contributing to long-term improvements in healthcare. Her efforts during times of war, epidemics, and humanitarian crises exemplified her resilience and dedication. This article highlights Hamilton's broader legacy, examining how her work reflects the intersection of gender, medicine, and missionary activity in a complex geopolitical context while also contributing to the introduction of Western medical practices in the Ottoman Empire.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39726131
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Pranjivandas Manekchand Mehta (1889-1981), MD, MS, FCPS, also known as Dr P M Mehta, was an Indian physician and surgeon in Bombay, who then became the personal physician of the Maharajah Jamsaheb of the former Princely...Pranjivandas Manekchand Mehta (1889-1981), MD, MS, FCPS, also known as Dr P M Mehta, was an Indian physician and surgeon in Bombay, who then became the personal physician of the Maharajah Jamsaheb of the former Princely State of Nawanagar, Gujarat, British India. The Jamsaheb appointed Mehta as the Chief Medical Officer of Nawanagar, and with the guidance of the French radiologist, Jean Saidman, oversaw the construction of the first solarium in India. Mehta persuaded the Jamsaheb to fund an institution dedicated to Ayurvedic studies, named the Shri Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society, the precursor to the first Ayurveda college in India, and he became the Director of the Central Institute of Research on Indigenous Systems, which later came under the umbrella of the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar. P M Mehta was instrumental in establishing a medical college in Nawanagar's capital, now known as the M. P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar. His work in Ayurvedic medicine and assembling a group of Sanskrit scholars led to a detailed translation of the ancient Sanskrit medical text , also spelt , into English, Hindi and Gujarati, published in six volumes in 1949. In 2022, the World Health Organization and the Indian Government established the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India, and chose Jamnagar as its location, noting that that was where graduate-level Ayurvedic studies began. Mehta's efforts in Ayurvedic education and the translations have largely been forgotten over several decades, and a recently issued reprint omits the mention of his name. The aim of this paper is to give some glimpses into Mehta's life and his role in the revival of Ayurveda in India, during the lead-up to and during the early years of independent India.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39716845
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This paper examines Drs Julius and Edwin van Millingen, father and son physicians from a Constantinople-based Levantine family. They thrived in late 19th-century Ottoman Constantinople, a period of modernization aimed at...This paper examines Drs Julius and Edwin van Millingen, father and son physicians from a Constantinople-based Levantine family. They thrived in late 19th-century Ottoman Constantinople, a period of modernization aimed at survival amid decline. The profiles of Millingen family members set an exemplary case of the Levantine families who preferred to settle and pursue their careers in the Ottoman capital, particularly for generations in the Pera (Beyoglu) bourgeoisie, associated with the prominent industrial and literate centers in Europe. Dr Julius Michael van Millingen (1800-1878) was physician and companion to Lord Byron (1788-1824), and served as the private physician of the Sultan Abdulmecid (1839-1861), and the Queen Mother, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan (1807-1853) at the Imperial Ottoman Palace. He published considerable writings on balneology, then. His son, Dr Edwin van Millingen (1850-1900), an Istanbul-born ophthalmologist, worked at top hospitals, taught at the Imperial School of Medicine, and collaborated with the . He reported on common ophthalmological diseases, with detailed statistics and meticulously organized tabular data. The multicultural lives of this Levantine family offer a unique glimpse into 19th-century Turkish medical history, reflecting close ties with Western medical centers.
J Med Biogr
· 2026 Feb · PMID 39692454
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Vavro Šrobár was a prominent political figure in East-Central Europe. He played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of the First Czechoslovak Republic, which emerged following the dissolution of the Austr...Vavro Šrobár was a prominent political figure in East-Central Europe. He played a pivotal role in the establishment and development of the First Czechoslovak Republic, which emerged following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the first Minister to exercise full administrative authority in overseeing the Provisional Government of Slovakia, and throughout his career, including until the end of his life, he held several significant political positions, such as Minister of Public Health and Physical Education, Minister of Unification, Minister of Education and National Enlightenment, and Minister of Finance. Among his numerous contributions, Šrobár was unquestionably one of the key figures behind the founding of the University in Bratislava. His name subsequently became closely associated with the first decades of the Bratislava Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University, founded in 1919. In the field of medicine, he is regarded as one of the founding figures of social medicine in Slovakia. This article will primarily examine Šrobár's medical accomplishments within the context of healthcare in present-day Slovakia during the first quarter of the 20th century and his work at the Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava. Additionally, we will explore the connection between his person and the early history of medicine in Slovakia.