Medical social work was a burgeoning field in the early decades of the twentieth century; what might now be considered a ‘holistic approach’ to medicine — dealing with the patient’s social background, life experience, job, and so on — was beginning to be regarded as a necessary corollary to medical treatment. Ida M. Cannon published her Social Work in Hospitals in 1913 which, with the benefit of hindsight, seems to be unfortunate timing; within a year… Continue reading

The rise in demand for artificial limbs — hands, legs, feet, and arms — after the American Civil War can readily be imagined. Recent scholarship in medical history has explored the medical care of the time. For those who survived serious battlefield wounds, substitutes had to be provided and entrepreneurs in the field stepped forward; among them, was Marks’ Patent Artificial Limbs which issued a small pamphlet in 1867 advertising its wares, announcing the recent winning of… Continue reading

If you happen to be in the United States, you may be aware that this Friday is the Fourth of July, a traditional celebration of barbecue, fireworks, and sunburn. In case you feel like lashing out and making your own fireworks (if it’s legal where you are, of course!), we’ve gotcha covered. Flip through the pages above or follow this link to read James Cutbush’s A system of pyrotechny : comprehending the theory and practice, with… Continue reading