#1920s medicine

[rubecso]

I've been on one of my regular excursions down a JSTOR rabbit hole lately, mostly researching 1920s psychiatric medicine for a character. Sometimes when you're reading a bunch of papers about a narrow topic, you'll find yourself encountering specific names more than once.

In this case, it's Sir Maurice Craig.

I first encountered this guy when I read a bunch of letters back and forth to the British Medical Journal. It starts with Maurice writing in saying "Barbiturates are totally not addictive, I give them to all my patients with no problems."

Now you might be tempted to say "Oh well they probably all thought that back then, they didn't know better."

Nope! There follows a flurry of responses from other doctors saying “Uhhh, I don't think so mate.” One of them sarcastically points out that if Sir Craig has never tried reducing his patients’ doses, he might not have realised they were addicted. 

This is met by response after response from Maurice telling them they were wrong. 

I then later spot his name mentioned in a conference on treating insomnia, where he said “Look guys, even if barbiturates are addictive, insomnia is way worse.”

And then today, I find him again, speaking at a meeting of (wait for it) the National Temperance League. 

Maurice: “Alcohol is bad cause it's addictive.”

Uh huh, yes that tracks. 

Maurice: “Which is why everyone should take barbiturates instead!”

Okay Maurice, you lost me there. 

And just to confirm that this was very much not the universal medical opinion at the time, there's another doctor at the same meeting who's recorded as saying pretty much that.

I can't tell if he was just really stubborn or getting some kind of kickback from the drugs manufacturers,but either way wherever he went Sir Maurice Craig was saying “THESE DRUGS ARE AWESOME”, followed by a small crowd of his peers doing their best to correct him.

[nemfrog]

Spinal adjustment and mechanical treatment. 1922.

Internet Archive

[scavengedluxury]

Electrotherapy department, Pázmány Péter Catholic University Clinic, Budapest, 1922. From the Budapest Municipal Photography Company archive.

[jurassicsickfics]

Here's some medicines from around the Titanic time period in case anyone is as interested as I was 💝

[thestalkerbunny]

It started with me trying to figure out roughly how much HAIR is exactly on Hackles in his human form and it turned into a joke about how his partner is MADE of the substance that they make condoms out of.

-

Slimes historically are made from a base of a laytex like substance which gives them their stretchy, rubbery, solid form, without it-they'd just be liquids.

[allcatsconstitutethesamefamily]

Source details and larger version.

They've had many lives and many ages: cats I've met in my time travels.

[ilikevintagebooks]

Hospital Methods of Bandaging

So fancy

The People's Home Library 1920

[justbusterkeaton]

Clip from the UK TV series Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow 1987

[caddyxjellyby]

'Medical educators recognized that the decision to study medicine had something to do with personal characteristics, cultural values, and the perceived attractiveness of medicine as a career, though no one could precisely explain medicine's growing popularity as a career or how premedical students might have differed from undergraduates who pursued other fields. Nevertheless, this was of little worry to medical schools, which now rejoiced at being able to conduct medical education on a far higher plane. Students entered medical school already knowing the alphabet of science, which allowed the four years of medical school to be preserved for purely medical subjects. Academic failure became much less common. By the 1930s the national attrition rate had fallen to 15%, most of which occurred during the first year of study. At elite schools that were highly competitive for admission, attrition rates were much lower still.

What course of study should students preparing for medicine undertake? This troublesome issue perplexed medical school and university officials alike. Everyone agreed that in an era of scientific medicine, a college education alone did not suffice. Rather, specific courses were required so that students could begin medical study without having to take remedial work. These consisted of biology or zoology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Most medical schools required or recommended courses in English, mathematics, and a foreign language as well.

Beyond these requirements, there was great confusion concerning the best preparation for medical school. Officially, medical school officials espoused the importance of a broad general education, not a narrow scientific training. However, faculties frequently sent the opposite message. This dilemma was illustrated at the University of Michigan. The medical school dean met repeatedly with premedical students to tell them “that the purpose of their preparation was to give them a broad general education.” Yet, the majority of individual faculty at the school believed that “science courses are still paramount for medical students.” James B. Conant, A. Lawrence Lowell's successor as president of Harvard University, summarized the dilemma in 1939: “I realize that many deans, professors, and members of the medical profession protest that what they all desire is a man with a liberal education, not a man with four years preloaded with premedical sciences. The trouble is very few people believe this group of distinguished witnesses. Least of all the students.” Accordingly, the overwhelming majority of applicants applied to medical school having majored in a scientific subject.

Though medical schools sought qualified students, most were not eager to increase the number admitted. Medical deans knew precisely how many students the school's dissection facilities, student laboratories and hospital ward could accommodate. The situation at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University was typical. In 1918, to ensure that all students “can be adequately taught and trained” the school reduced the size of the first-year class by one-half. The faculty found this experience “infinitely more satisfactory” than trying to teach larger numbers of students as before. In emphasizing education quality, medical schools were thought to be acting in a socially responsible fashion. Virtually no one in the 1920s or 1930s, inside or outside the profession, thought the country was suffering from too few physicians.

Medical educators and admissions officers debated endlessly how to select the finest candidates from the growing applicant pool: whether to rely on grades, courses taken, letter of recommendation, or the personal interview. Virtually all admissions committees valued that elusive quality of “character,” though no one knew exactly how to define or measure it. To help makes their deliberations more “scientific,” some admissions committees began using the results of the Medical Aptitude Test, a standardized objective test introduced by medical educators and educational psychologists at George Washington University in the late 1920s and recommended for general use by the Association of American Medical Colleges in 1931. However, no instrument of measurement, alone or in conjunction with others, could allow them to determine with confidence which applicants would make the best practitioners or medical scientists. The Medical Aptitude Test could accurately predict which students would achieve academic success during the formal course work of medical school, but not future success at practicing medicine.'

– Time to Heal: American Medical Education from the Turn of the Century to the Era of Managed Care by Kenneth M. Ludmerer

[featherlouise]

NAHH IMAGINE THE HISTORY GCSES (or hallownest equivalent of it) - 👹

Honestly if my history GCSE content was THAT interesting I'd probably have had a shit ton of fun

[100yearoldcomics]

July 26, 1922 The Five-Fifteen by E.C. Segar

[ID: Sappo happily strolls up to a pleased Myrtle in the house somewhere. /end] Sappo: Listen, I've got a great scheme to make Uncle Amos leave. I'll tell him that you have fits now and then. Myrtle: John, that's a good idea.

[ID: Sappo solemnly breaks the "news" to Amos on his armchair. /end] Sappo: Uncle, it is my duty to tell you something. Your life is in danger here.

[ID: Sappo whispers to Amos, who's startled up out of his seat. /end] Sappo: P-s-t, ssh. My wife has terrible fits. She's about to have one now. Amos: Why didn't you tell me this before?

[ID: Sappo, pleased, returns to a laughing Myrtle. /end] Sappo: You should have seen him beat it out the door, ha-ha. Myrtle: Ho-ho, that's rich.

[ID: They turn around, startled. /end] Amos: I got it, Johnny! You hold her and I'll make her take it. It's terrible tastin', but it'll fix her fits. Sappo: ! Myrtle: !

[ID: Amos chases after Myrtle with a bottle of patent medicine. /end] Amos: I once had a fitty mule and one dose of this here stuff fixed her right up! Catch 'er, Johnny.

[theoreticaldoctor]

Being the EPAU (Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit) House Officer - Housemanship Diaries

A short blog regarding my experience as a House Officer in the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) in the O&G Posting. - #medicine #housemanship #blogging #writing #obstetrics #gynaecology #O&G #doctor #malaysia

Related Posts: Reflection of The Obstetric and Gynaecology Posting My First Ever Explanation Letter My Last Day In The Department of Obstetrics And Gynaecology Surviving On-Night In The Gynaecology Ward As A House Officer In Sarawak General Hospital – Housemanship Diaries Surviving On-Night In The Postnatal Ward (Maternity 1 & 3) As A House Officer In Sarawak General Hospital – Housemanship…

[nemfrog]

Eczema. Library of health. 1921.

Internet Archive

[scavengedluxury]

The first ambulance serving the city of Pécs, 1927. From the Budapest Municipal Photography Company archive.

[artemismatchalatte]

So I'm going to recycle some of my old ideas and do a character change for a new project. I finally wrote something for the first time in a long time last night. It's probably not my best work but it is something.

Yes, it involves Gerry, my beloved butch gentlewoman. Essentially, I'm rewriting an old story so Gerry is the main character instead of the original main character. I ended up moving him to a WWI story instead.

[pejite]

Hi! Today, I’m sharing a list of mods that I consider essential for playing historical gameplay in The Sims.

I often have friends who want to dive into the Decades Challenge but aren’t sure which mods to use or where to start. So, in this post, I’m going to share the mods I personally use and think are indispensable for creating that authentic historical experience.

Deaderpool's MC Command Center: This mod allows you to manage and modify many aspects of your game, including handling pregnancies, university careers, and enabling teen relationships so your Sims can marry earlier, among other features. You can also enable autosave and adjust the length of a Sim day.

Lumpinou's RPO: This mod enhances relationship dynamics and expands pregnancy features. It's extensive, with many modules, and once you've tried it, you won't want to play without it.

Pandasama's Realistic Childbirth: Offers multiple realistic childbirth options, including natural bed births and spontaneous labour, adding depth to your Sims' family lives.

MizoreYukii's Arranged Marriages: Allows you to arrange marriages for convenience. Parents can agree on marriages for their children, but breaking the arrangement won’t be easy.

Necrodog's Carriages and Horses: Adds functional carriages, enhancing immersion. While it doesn't work with the horses of Horse Ranch pack, it’s still incredibly useful.

Kuttoe's Enlist in War: It will allow your Sims to enlist in the war. Whether they live or die will be random, but if they survive, they'll receive the Veteran trait, a lifetime pension and some lasting traumas.

JaneSimsten's Regency Romance: Perfect for simulating the Regency era. It adds class differences, property ownership, etiquette skills, new traits and careers, events, and widowhood. Though inspired by the Regency era, it works well for later decades too.

SimKatu's Reading Animation Override: Changes the reading animations, with different ones for men and women, making your Sims’ reading time more immersive.

Zero's Deadly Dickensian Sicknesses: Introduces the risk of diseases like Tuberculosis, Typhoid Fever, and Cholera. It’s incredibly realistic with its contagion system.

Adeepindigo's Healthcare Redux: A comprehensive health mod that adds various illnesses and treatments, including tuberculosis and (early access) cancer. While Sims can buy modern medicines, many illnesses can be cured with natural remedies.

Adeepindigo's Simulated Endings: This mod will enhance everything related to your Sims' deaths, allowing them to take out life insurance and designate beneficiaries, arrange funeral preparations, and introduce stages of grief for your Sims.

MizoreYukii's Functional Broom: Adds a functional broom with its own animation, letting you keep your Sims’ homes clean without resorting to modern vacuums.

Triplis's Quit or Join School: In case you need your teens or childs to quit school.

The Kalino's Farm Animal Set: Expands your farm with more animals, including goats, sheep, ducks and more, in addition to the standard cows and chickens.

JaneSimsten's Write With Quills: Replaces your Sims' pens with quills, adding a touch of historical accuracy.

JaneSimsten's Sidesaddle Override: Allows female Sims to ride horses sidesaddle, as they would have in the past.

JaneSimsten's Parchment Computer: Replaces modern computers with parchment and quills, complete with their own animations—perfect for pre-typewriter eras.

Frankk's Language Barriers: More realism to sims being from different worlds.

Rs4ella's 1920s Grade School Homework Override: Changes the look of the kids' homework book to a 1920s style, but it works well for earlier periods too.

Xbrilliantsims's Toddler Bathtime Overrides: Replaces modern bath toys and sponges with more era-appropriate items when bathing toddlers.

Lunamoth's Historical Infant Carriers: Swaps out modern baby carriers for fabric slings, suitable for any historical era.

Lunamoth's Rope Pet Leash: Replaces the modern pet leash with a simple rope, making it look more appropriate for historical gameplay.

300yearschallenge's Historical Baby Bath Override: Changes the baby bath seat to a more suitable design, or you can opt for

Sassymissollie's Invisible Infant Bath Seat to remove it entirely.

JaneSimsten's 5 Day Work Week: Choose Your Own Work Hours: Lets you adjust your Sims' work schedules for a more realistic experience.

JaneSimsten's Marksmanship Skill: Adds a marksmanship skill, allowing your Sims to practise shooting and hunting, with the hunted animals available for cooking.

Littlbowbub's Ye Olde Cookbook: Enables your Sims to cook historical dishes, perfect for low-income Sims in older settings.

Basemental's Basemental Drugs: Although mainly known for adding drugs, it’s commonly used for its smoking features, letting your Sims smoke cigarettes and cigars like a proper Victorian gentleman.

MizoreYukii's Children/Toddlers Can Die of Anything: Allows your child Sims to die, useful if your storyline requires it.

Ayoshi's Phone to Notebook Replacement Mod: If phone elimination mods are causing issues, this mod might help. It replaces the mobile phone with a small notebook, which could pass for a mini Bible or an old-fashioned notebook.

JaneSimsten's Extra Cross-Stitch Patterns: Adds historically accurate cross-stitch patterns.