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Notes from the John Martin Rare Book Room — More Than Mickey Mouse

Visitors to the John Martin Rare Book Room are often bemused when they spot a View-Master resting on one of the bookcases. If you’re under the age of sixty-five you probably owned one of these devices along with several View-Master reels depicting far-off countries, cartoon characters or comic book heroes rendered in 3-D. But whyContinue reading “Notes from the John Martin Rare Book Room — More Than Mickey Mouse”

Rare Book Room Open House!

The John Martin Rare Book Room will hold its annual open house on Thursday, May 15 from 4:30 to 7:30. The exhibit, “’No Small Presumption’–Surgical Works From Six Centuries,” will feature rare books from the earliest days of surgery through the twentieth century. Although chloroform and ether were not widely used before the second halfContinue reading “Rare Book Room Open House!”

Don’t forget to check out new 3rd Floor Display!

Don’t forget to stop by Hardin’s newest exhibit, Simple Medicines, located near the 3rd floor doors of the Hardin Library. The display on herbs and herbal medicinal treatments spotlights the work of French scholar Matthaeus Platearius (d. 1161). The lustrous images in this exhibit have been copied from a facsimile of a remarkable manuscript publishedContinue reading “Don’t forget to check out new 3rd Floor Display!”

History of Medicine Society to Host Annual Banquet, Friday, April 25

The University of Iowa History of Medicine Society will host its annual R. Palmer Howard Dinner, Friday, April 25, 2008. The reception will begin at 6:00 pm followed by the dinner at 7:00 on the 8th floor, Roy Carver Pavilion, UIHC. The after-dinner speaker will be, Walton O. Schalick, III, Md, PhD, Assistant Professor ofContinue reading “History of Medicine Society to Host Annual Banquet, Friday, April 25”

Rare Morphological Work Added to Rare Book Collection

Recently, the John Martin Rare Book Room acquired a rare copy of Edward Tyson’s 1699 book, Orang-outang, sive, Homo sylvestris, or, The anatomy of a pygmie compared with that of a monkey, an ape, and a man… The book constitutes of the most important works in the history of comparative morphology. Physician, Edward Tyson, studiedContinue reading “Rare Morphological Work Added to Rare Book Collection”

Pictures from classic medical books in Hardin MD

Many of the pictures in Hardin MD are public-domain, meaning that they are not copyrighted. One useful source for pictures that are not copyrighted is classic medical books that are old enough that their copyright has run out. Hardin MD has pictures from three of these books, described below. Dermochromes, by Jerome Kingsbury, pictures byContinue reading “Pictures from classic medical books in Hardin MD”

Dr. Ronald Strauss to Speak on Elmer DeGowin’s role in Blood Transfusion

The public is invited to a University of Iowa History of Medicine talk on “Elmer L. DeGowin, MD, Blood transfusions in war and peace” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, in Room 401 of the UI Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. The speaker will be Dr. Ronald Strauss, Professor, DeGowin Blood Center, University ofContinue reading “Dr. Ronald Strauss to Speak on Elmer DeGowin’s role in Blood Transfusion”

Emily Alden to speak on “Physicians of the Deaf”

The public is invited to a University of Iowa History of Medicine talk on “Physicians of the Deaf: Treatment, Prevention and the AMA’s War on Quackery 1910-1940″ at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 26, in Room 401 of the UI Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. The speaker will be Emily Alden, Student, Interdepartmental Studies Program,Continue reading “Emily Alden to speak on “Physicians of the Deaf””

“Iowa Leading the Way: Dr. Ralph Waters and the First Ambulatory Surgery Center”

The public is invited to a University of Iowa History of Medicine talk on “Iowa Leading the Way: Dr. Ralph Waters and the First Ambulatory Surgery Center” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 27, in Room 401 of the UI Hardin Library for the Health Sciences. The speaker will be Douglas Merrill, Medical Director, Ambulatory SurgeryContinue reading ““Iowa Leading the Way: Dr. Ralph Waters and the First Ambulatory Surgery Center””