Prominent Neurosurgery Books of the Western World: How They Defined the Era of Modern Neurosurgery in the 19th Century.

The aim of this article is to introduce the 19th century neurosurgery books to reveal their contributions to modern neurosurgery. Methods In this study, 29 books were accessed, and reviewed, and the resources from the late 18th century and early 20th century were included. However, neurology or general surgery books that included neurosurgical subjects or chapter were excluded unless there were revolutionary ideas in their relevant chapters. The books of this period observed to have some common differences from the books that were written in the previous century. Parallel to the concept of cerebral localization, which started to develop in this period, neurosurgery evolved from skull surgery to brain surgery. Due to the advancements in patient care, anesthesia and sterile techniques, surgical medical branches showed rapid development in the 1800s. During this period, cerebral localization concept changed the comprehension and approach in neurosurgery and opened the gate of a new era in the field of neurological surgery unlike other branches and helped to establish modern neurosurgery. 19th century surgeons became able to operate on more complex cases with more advanced techniques. Knowledge of published pioneer papers and books help understanding of emergence of neurological surgery as a separate discipline.

Saberes médicos y reflexiones morales durante el período rosista: Buenos Aires, 1835-1847 / Medical knowledge and moral reflections during the Rosas era: Buenos Aires, 1835-1847

Resumen Este artículo analiza cómo el discurso médico incorpora una serie de reflexiones sobre las conductas morales en Buenos Aires en la primera parte del siglo XIX. A través del estudio de tres textos, cuyos autores son los médicos Diego Alcorta, Guillermo Rawson y Francisco Javier Muñiz se identifican una serie de registros argumentales que resaltan el funcionamiento de los órganos, la cuestión de la herencia y la gravitación del clima en función de reflexionar sobre la moralidad de los individuos y las poblaciones. Este fenómeno de transferencia de saberes se debe a la presencia de la tradición médica francesa sumándose a factores locales derivados del intenso proceso de politización de la sociedad bajo el segundo gobierno de Juan Manuel de Rosas.

Abstract This article analyzes how medical discourse incorporated a series of reflections on moral behaviors in Buenos Aires in the early nineteenth century. Based on the study of three texts authored by the physicians Diego Alcorta, Guillermo Rawson and Francisco Javier Muñiz, it identifies a series of discursive registers that stress the role of organ functions, the question of heredity and the influence of climate in reflections on the morality of individuals and populations. This phenomenon of knowledge transfer is due to the presence of the French medical tradition, in addition to local factors stemming from the intense process of politicization of society under the second administration of Juan Manuel de Rosas.

[Study on the first translated obstetrics book Tai chan ju yao (Essentials in Obstetrics)].

In 1893, Wan Tsun-mo translated and published Tai chan ju yao (Essentials in Obstetrics), the first monograph of western obstetrics in modern China, symbolizing the independence of obstetrics from such maternal and child books as Fu ying xin shuo and Fu ke jing yun tu shuo, which occupies an important position in the history of the development of modern Chinese obstetrics. The book introduced anatomy, physiology, pathology, embryology, diagnostics, surgery, pharmacology and other knowledge of obstetrics in a catechismal form, and had a detailed discussion of such advanced obstetrical technologies as antiseptic, anesthesia, forceps and cesarean section for the first time.Judging from the content and translation of Tai chan ju yao, this book has already possessed the basic knowledge system of modern obstetrics, though the translation appeared to be somewhat jerky and not elegant and the terminology needing to be further improved, it was not only used as an important medium for the introduction of obstetrical knowledge, but also of great clinical value.However, its influence was so weak that later researchers seldom mentioned this book.

End-of-life care in the Western world: where are we now and how did we get here?

OBJECTIVES: Recent movements in end-of-life care emphasise community care for the dying; however, integrating community with medical care continues to be a work in progress. Historically tracing brain hemispheric dominance, Ian McGilchrist believes we are overemphasising functionality, domination and categorisation to the detriment of symbolism, empathy and connectedness with others. The aim of this historical review is to bring McGilchrist's sociobiological narrative into dialogue with the history and most recent trends in end-of-life care. METHOD: This review used widely referenced historical accounts of end-of-life care, recent literature reviews on relevant topics and current trends in end-of-life care. RESULTS: While contemporary end-of-life care emphasises community care for the dying, implementation of these new approaches must be considered in its historical context. McGilchrist's arguments call for a critical consideration of what seems a rather simple change in end-of-life care. CONCLUSION: We must question whether it is possible to hand death responsibilities back to the community when medical services have largely assumed this responsibility in countries supporting individualism, secularism and materialism.

The origins of Western dermatology.

OBJECTIVE: On the premise that historical background makes the present more understandable, this review covers the origins of Western dermatology from its Greek and Roman origins through the Middle Ages to the defining moments in the late eighteenth century.BACKGROUND AND CONCLUSION:The development of major European centers at this time became the background for future centers in the eastern United States in the midnineteenth century and, finally, to the West Coast of the United States and Canada by the midtwentieth century.

[Encounters of the Korean body with the traditional and modern medical systems].

The body has been an intense focus of attention since the 1990s both in academic and mundane discourse. In philosophy, literature critique, sociology and anthropology the body has been found to have various implications and auras around it.I try to explain the body as the subject of medicine rather philosophically, in terms of nature, culture and phenomena. And then I look into the Korean body of the late 19th century when western biomedicine was first introduced. The Korean body was encountering traditional and modern biomedical medicines in three different spaces i.e., corporal, social and moral. The corporal space was the space into which direct intervention such as surgery was performed. The body was also situated in the social space where imperative social measures such as sanitation and sterilization was imposed. The body also had the moral space, invasion into which evoked great moral upheaval. It was when the government ordered the public to cut the long and bound hair, which had long been the symbol of their identity. Reflecting upon the philosophical perspectives and examining concrete cases of the encounters of the body with the two medical systems, I argue that we should have new perspectives that embodies the historical and phenomenological experiences of the body.

[The surgical license of Otaguro Gentan and its background].

After the birth of Caspar-style surgery (kasuparu-ryu geka) during the 1650s, for about three decades, certificates issued by surgeons of the Dutch East India Company proved useful to those pursuing a career as a 'Western-style physician'. Five of these 'diploma' have survived the ravages of time. Four of the five beneficiaries are well known. An investigation in Northern Kyushu and Shikoku brought to light historical records that clarify the hitherto unknown background of the fifth one, Otaguro Gentan. Gentan was the second son of Otaguro Shozaemon, a village headman in the province of Chikugo. With no prospects of succeeding his father, he went to serve in the residence of Kuze Hiroyuki in Edo. This powerful imperial councillor suggested an education in Western surgery at the Dutch trading post in Nagasaki. The instruction given by Arnold Dircksz ceased in October 1668 when he issued a certificate. After his 'graduation', Otaguro went to Edo again where he was employed by Hachisuga Tsunamichi, the young ruler of Awa. He changed his name to Mizogami, and for generations the sons of his family served as physicians to the Hachisuga family. Gentan was treaed with great generosity by Tsunamichi and his successor Tsunanori. In 1694, he was even granted use of Tsunamori's personal ship to travel to Nagasaki for further medical studies. But Gentan soon fell ill and after a brief visit to the village of his ancestors, he died at the end of the same year.

[Historical review on treatment of head and neck cancer in modern medicine].

The summarization includes understandings of the etiological factors, evolution course of treatment of head and neck cancer in pre - modern era (1500 - 1900) and modern age, and the historical summary of head and neck cancer treatment in China, aiming at providing references for its further development through historical reviewing on its law summarized through 150 years of experience.

Drug addiction. Part I. Psychoactive substances in the past and presence.

Substances capable of changing the functions of the central nervous system are widely distributed in plant kingdom, and many of them were discovered by ancient food-gatherers at the dawn of humanity. In the Old World only a few substances producing euphoria or altered states of consciousness and having habit-forming properties are still widely used. They are the products of poppy (opium, morphine), hemp (hashish, marijuana), and of fermentation of various organic materials alkohol. This list has recently been joined by the psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The addiction-forming compounds originated in the New World and widely spread are tobacco (nicotine) and cocaine. In the 19th and 20th, century the development of medicinal chemistry resulted in several synthetic compounds, originally proposed as therapeutics, such as barbiturates, benzodiazepines and amphetamines. Due to legal problems, to avoid production of the substances already prohibited, many designer drugs were manufactured. In addition, several compounds were synthesized as recreational drugs. Also some compounds that were not regarded as drugs, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and other cleansing agents, as well as steroids were found to have properties of dangerous, habit-forming agents. The attitude of society and the pattern of use of psychoactive substances have changed with time, particularly in the last decades. The active principles are now more addictive because of concentration, purification, chemical modifications and the way of ingestion, which now favors most rapid transport to the central nervous system. The substance abuse approaches the level of global epidemics, and the recent usage of drugs of addition is also reviewed.