Online History of Medicine Resources

In the past few weeks, I have learned of several digital resources that may be of interest to readers of Medical Humanities Blog.

First, sponsored by the Wellcome Trust, the website of the Science Museum, London, is featuring a section entitled Brought to Life: Exploring the History of Medicine.  This is really a wonderful resource, with really too much to even begin to get into here.  For example, the main page features links for teachers, for a section entitled "what it means to be well," and for a digital exploration of John Snow's iron lung.  Highly recommended!

(h/t Medieval Medicine listserv)

Second, the website of the Public Health Museum, Tewksbury, MA, has expanded and revamped its website.  Check out the photo gallery.

(h/t H-SCI-MED-TECH listserv)

Third, Steven Palmer, of the department of history at the University of Windsor, has unveiled a really amazing web site entitled Cultures of Health: A Historical Anthology.  Here is the description of the website, which presents opportunities for students as well as more established researchers:

A new on-line research magazine in history of medicine

Cultures of Health: A Historical Anthology is a website featuring archival material, research notes, interviews, bibliographic summaries, and practical, intriguing links in an accessible and usable format. Cultures of Health seeks to cross boundaries of method and presentation in the field, and is expanding to present multi-media explorations including audio and video.

Published by scholars with experience in the history of medicine and related fields, Cultures of Health approaches medicine and health from a social, cultural and political perspective using a wide lens and broad brush.  The editors welcome submissions of short pieces or annotated sources by interested scholars, and offer streamlined, rapid publication.  Copyright is retained by the contributor.

(h/t H-SCI-MED-TECH)

Highly recommended! It is amazing to see how much is opening up on the internet for those interested in the medical humanities and the history of medicine.  Between this and the incredible albeit controversial Google Books project, it is an exciting time to be working on projects related to MH/history of medicine.

Thoughts?

Comments

[James - Jrs Medical]

Thanks for the iron lung link. My grandfather had spoken about his best friend contracting polio when he was young and how he had to use an iron lung. Was not familiar with the device but your website link gave me great insight (enjoyed the video with Mr. Costello in it, gave the reality of what it is like to live in iron lung for most of your life.) Keep up the great posts!!