This is the third in our regular video series showcasing an interesting item from our McGuire Historical Instrument Collection.

The video may also be viewed on Youtube at http://youtu.be/-2hXfnFGuhU

What is the name of this instrument and what was it used for?

Hints given in the video:

• It was designed by Dr. Carter Moffet in the 19^th century
• It was designed in London England by the Medical Battery Company
• It was used to produce artificial Italian air by pressing the switches on either end, and twisting a rod in the center

Please submit your answers to Linda Lohr by April 30, 2013.

Prizes will be drawn from all correct answers received by April 30th.  First prize is a copy of “Stolen Glory: the McKinley Assassination”, 2nd prize is “Medical History in Buffalo, 1846-1996″,  third prize is a set of our beautiful Botanical Notecards — Happy Guessing!

The links at the NLM exhibits pages offer a rare opp0rtunity for delving into the history of the occult sciences (see especially educational unit 2 and unit 3).  However, the UB Libraries and the History of Medicine collection have great resources to study as well.

Check out these sources:

• The occult sciences: sketches of the traditions and superstitions of past times, and the marvels of the present day, HSL History WZ 309 S637o 1855
• Alchemy :the Medieval alchemists and their royal art /by Johannes Fabricius, HSL History QD 26 F126f 1989
• The story of alchemy and early chemistry, HSL History QD11 S84 1960

The UB Libraries also have many of the books referred to in the exhibit, available through our electronic subscription to Early English Books Online (UB Only).

Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance, Science, Magic, and Medicine is on display through March 26th in the lobby of HSL.   However, the magic and marvel of Harry Potter’s world, and its connection to the history of medicine and science, remain for the reader to discover in the many resources available in the UB Libraries.

But it’s not the first, or likely the last.

During the influenza epidemic almost a century ago, an estimated 650,000 Americans and approximately 50 million worldwide lost their lives.

Today, vaccination, preventative measures and supportive medical care have reduced morbidity and mortality, while patients can readily get information on the current spread, symptoms, treatments, and other information via the web.  New York State Department of Health Seasonal Flu page and http://flu.gov as well as other state web sites are easily accessed.   But in 1918, such information was disseminated by newspapers, public gatherings and word of mouth.

The fascinating history of this epidemic is well documented.   Stop by HSL’s History of Medicine to read Deborah Bruch Bucki’s essay:  “A History of Buffalo’s Medical Response to the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919″ in: Medical History in Buffalo 1846-1996: Collected Essays, compiled and edited by Lilli Sentz.    Photos from the epidemic can be seen in Another Era: A Pictorial History of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, 1846-1996, including one showing Buffalo physicians and members of the junior and sophomore classes of the Medical School garbed in heavy, long white robes with hoods to reduce risk of contagion.  Another photo shows ordinary citizens wearing gauze masks.

A worldwide account is detailed in Rajendra Kumar Sen’s A Treatise on Influenza,with Special Reference to the Pandemic of 1918, published in 1923.

Elsewhere on the web, check out the American Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919: a digital encyclypedia created by the University of Michigan Center for the History of Medicine.  The archive contains over 16,000 historical documents and photographs, as well as the stories of 50 U.S. cities, including Buffalo.  At one point theaters and schools suggested staying open so they could disseminate public health information, however on October 10th, 1918, all were ordered closed as well as all social gatherings and meetings, thus keeping Buffalo’s infection rate to just 6% compared to 10% nationwide.

The federal site,  http://flu.gov, also includes a historical section, The Great Pandemic, The United States, 1918-1919, which includes a snapshot of life during that time, the state of medical care, events in every state of the union, documents including ads, posters, cartoons, charts, newspapers, and photos, biographies of key public health figures, and a bibliography.

Influenza – caused by a virus.  At just 100 or so nanometers (.0000001 meter), it continues to cause misery.

The event showcased collections located in different buildings across the South Campus: George W. Ferry Dental Museum in Squire Hall, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Apothecary and Historical Exhibits in Kapoor Hall, Museum of Neuroanatomy (Brain Museum) in the Biomedical Education Building, and the Robert L. Brown History of the Health Sciences Collection in the Health Sciences Library and the Museum of Radiology & Medical Physics, both in Abbott Hall.

A wonderful article in The Spectrum entitled “South Campus’ hidden treasures: A rich medical history is within its walls” gave a post-event perspective from a student who used the opportunity to introduce her parents to the campus.

Approximately 25 participants were also treated to refreshments and a panel discussion by Dr. Jim Bono, Dr. Michael Rembis and  Dr. David  Herzberg, all from the UB Department of History.

All of the South Campus “hidden treasures” collections staff have been delighted with the positive feedback from attendees at this first event.   Watch for future Walks into History!

Meanwhile, you can read all about the collections in our brochure that was handed out at the event on October 24th.

A hearty “thank you” to everyone who contributed to the day!

Tucked among classic ivy-covered  buildings and cutting-edge health sciences research and teaching facilities on the University at Buffalo’s South Campus are several “hidden treasures”, special collections that offer unique perspectives into  the past and present of the health sciences.  Come take an autumnal “walk into history” on October 24th from 4 to 8 p.m. and learn  more about these repositories and their  intriguing resources.

The following collections will be open  to visitors from 4 to 7 p.m.:  George W. Ferry Dental Museum (this collection will only be open from 4 to 6 p.m.) , School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Apothecary and Historical  Exhibits,  Museum of Neuroanatomy  (Brain Museum), and both  the Museum  of Radiology and Medical Physics and the Robert L. Brown  History of the Health Sciences Collection in the Health Sciences Library.

Begin your walk in the lobby of the Health Sciences Library in Abbott Hall on the day of the event, where maps, collection descriptions and the schedule of events will be available.  The map and the collection descriptions may be printed in advance.

After your walk, attend the panel discussion in the Roswell Park Room of the Health Sciences Library from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m.

Dr. Jim Bono, Dr. Michael Rembis and  Dr. David  Herzberg, all from the UB Department of History, will address topics including the importance of the history of medicine for medical humanities, changing trends in the history of psychiatry, and the history of prescription and non-prescription drugs.  The speakers will engage the audience to think about important aspects of medicine, health  care, patients, society, culture, and communication.  Light refreshments  will be served.

Space for the panel discussion is limited!    RSVP’s  will be greatly appreciated.  Contact Linda Lohr  (829-5737; lalohr@buffalo.edu) or Keith Mages (829-5737; kcmages buffalo.edu)  to RSVP, or for additional information.

Workshops for the fall semester are now ready for registration at http://library.buffalo.edu/hsl/services/workshops.html. The first workshop on September 12th will be “No Experience Endnote”, a new and popular addition to the other Endnote offerings.

Also note that the NCBI Discovery Bioinformatics Workshop are coming up on September 19-20, 2012! Check out the details, alsp at http://library.buffalo.edu/hsl/services/workshops.html.

This is the second in our regular video series showcasing an interesting item from our McGuire Historical Instrument Collection.

View the video on Youtube at http://youtu.be/OhhqfKEOjPg

What is the name of this instrument and what was it used for?

Hints given in the video:

• It is a surgical instrument.
• Itwas manufactured in France around 1700.
• It was used in the world’s oldest recorded surgery.

Please submit your answers to Linda Lohr by June 30, 2012.

The prize for the first correct answer received is a set of our beautiful Botanical Notecards — Happy Guessing!

NEW this year!  UB Day - UB students, faculty & staff ONLY
Monday February 6^{th ,} 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Open to all beginning  9:00 am Tuesday, February 7th through Noon on Monday, February 13th

Books in nearly all Health and Biomedical Sciences areas!
Also featuring a large selection of books from

• Natural sciences
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Plus best sellers and popular non-fiction

Buy early for the best selection!

 Proceeds from this sale help fund future purchases for the HSL collections.

Please bring $1 bills since change may not be available.

The instrument is a “Tonsilotome”.  As the name suggests, it was used to remove tonsils.  Mathieu’s Tonsilotome was described as requiring “but one hand and one motion”.

The McGuire Instrument Collection includes another style of this instrument manufactured by Luer, also known as a Tonsil guillotine.   There were a few other models — check out the 1889 edition of a catalog of surgical instruments,  American armamentarium chirurgicum from George Tiemann & Co, who had their own device, Tiemann & Co.’s Tonsilotome, as well as Billing’s and Fahnestock’s.

Watch for Episode 2 of the Curiosity Cabinet!

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Welcome to the first episode of the “Curiosity Cabinet”!

Periodically, we will be posting a short video of an interesting item from our McGuire Historical Instrument Collection, with a few clues about the origin.  Readers may then send us their answers as instructed.  So,  let us begin!

View the video on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-2oUj2zC1Q

What is the name of this instrument and what was it used for?

HINTS

• It was manufactured in the 19^th century by the Collin Company in Paris.
• It’s based on a design developed by a Dr. Matthieu
• It is made of steel.

Please submit your answers to Linda Lohr

The prize for the first correct answer received is a set of our beautiful Botanical Notecards!

Are your eyes drooping?
Does your back feel tight?
Are you tense?
Do you need a break from studying?

Well, come on down!

During the week of December 12^th,   HSL will provide a “stress relief” area for students.   On hand at various times will be therapy dogs to pet, free chair massages, and free coffee!

Just come on down to room B15 – the Roswell Park Room, on the lower level during the following hours:

Monday               December 12^th 10am-2pm
Tuesday              December 13^th 10am-2pm
Wednesday        December 14^th 10am-2pm
Thursday            December 15^th 3pm-5pm

The dogs will be waiting!