History of Science and Math Stack Exchange
History of Science and Math Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [medicine]

For questions about all areas of health care for humans, including diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention.

This tag is for questions about the history of the science of healing. This includes diagnosis, treatment, prevention of disease, and other health care, as applied to humans.

52 questions
17
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2 answers

When was cancer first recognised, and by whom?

Cancer is one of the most well known and widespread conditions in the modern world, it can be argued that everyone is affected either directly and indirectly throughout their lives. According to Cancer Research UK, there are over 200 types of…
user22
16
votes
1 answer

Why was asthma considered a psychosomatic condition during the first half of the 20th century?

Asthma has been known since Ancient Egypt, according to the Medical News Today web-article Asthma History - Through The Ages, with the first use of the word by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece. Throughout most of history from Ancient Egypt and Greece,…
user22
9
votes
1 answer

What is the history of the science about butter, margarine, and health?

Over time, the science on the issue of dietary fat and heart disease has undergone drastic changes, and in particular, advice to eat margarine rather than butter has been reversed. What is the history of this subject?
user466
7
votes
1 answer

What vaccines did infants receive in late nineteenth century England?

I came across a WWI service record for a relative which includes his medical history. It notes that he was vaccinated in infancy: The person in question was born in 1897. I note on this simple timeline of vaccines that there were several vaccines…
Harry Vervet
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6
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1 answer

At what point in the history of medicine did doctors start having a net positive effect?

The height of medical science used to be applying leeches and administering useless poisons, like mercury. Undoubtedly many patients were killed by harmful treatments, and few if any were helped. Have historians of medicine estimated the year when…
Mikolaj
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6
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1 answer

History related to the "2 litres of water per day" theory

Most people (including doctors) say and also newspapers states that an average person should drink 2 litres (approximately 8 glasses) of water per day. Even though this is very popular I have heard about this many times, I have never actually heard…
The Artist
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3
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0 answers

Assessing TB mortality due to M. bovis vs M. tuberculosis infections in pre-19th century England?

Over the years, and long before the discovery of the causative agent, tuberculosis was known by various names, including "phthisis" and "consumption". Robert Koch discovered Mycobacteria in 1882. We now know that there are several species of…
Harry Vervet
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3
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2 answers

Origin of the idea that 'bad' emotions cause cancer

It's a quite common belief that emotions are a factor that may cause cancer. I don't believe this can be scientifically verified, which makes the idea just a myth. I'd like to know where does it come from.
hjhjhj57
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2
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1 answer

How effective were pre-thermometer devices in e.g. detecting fever?

A thermometer is a "scaled" and therefore very accurate device in measuring body temperature, and thereby detecting fever. What happened before thermometers were introduced in their current form in the 17th century? For instance, what was the…
Tom Au
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2
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1 answer

Why did the APA require a NDA from DSM-5 task force members?

The Wikipedia page on DSM-5 says that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) mandated that DSM-5 task force members sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). What was APA's public rationale behind this NDA?
Franck Dernoncourt
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2
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Diphtherite: What is it and what is the difference with Diphtheria?

My brother and I are researching our family tree, and in our extended ancestry, there is a person who is registered on their death certificate to have died June 1858, of diphtherite. I wondered if it was the same as diphtheria and did some searching…
Chris Rogers
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1
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1 answer

which country launched N-95 mask for the first time?

I did much searching about the N-95 mask but couldn't find any clue about its main country, i.e. who launched it. Can anyone let me know which country really launched it?
user25488
0
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0 answers

In which year did Hippocrates introduce the historical conception of disease?

I am aware the notion of disease 'having a course' comes from Hippocrates, who is known as the father of modern medicine in part due to this reason. From this fact I wonder if someone knows and could pinpoint the exact year when Hippocrates…
aitía
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0
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Why was the germ theory of disease held in disdain?

According to Wikipedia, the germ theory of disease has been held in disdain for centuries in Europe, where the miasma theory was prevalent. Why were scientists so biased against the germ theory?
Riemann
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0
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How well was alcoholism understood at a time when people drank chronically?

During the 19th century and before, bad water made drinking alcoholic drinks almost a necessity -- in any case, people drank by modern standards a tremendous amount. I am guessing that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, despite the large number of cases that…
releseabe
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