Oxford Medical Histories

The Antibody Molecule follows the extraordinary journey of the medics and scientists who shaped the course of medical advances in the field of immunology. One of the oldest of the medical sciences, immunology has a history that has seen chemists, physicists and biologists alike seeking to unravel the most complex system in the human body outside the brain. This title charts its intriguing history, from the genetic basis of antibody diversity, through the understanding of the mechanism by which the immune system's first line of defence works, to breakthroughs in crystallography and the exploitation of immunoglobulins as therapeutic platforms to treat cancer, inflammation and allergy. Tracing the developments in immunology in chronological order, Professor Anthony R. Rees presents the historical contexts of the periods in rich detail, bringing them to life with quotes and illustrations.Less

Epilepsy is a common disease of the brain, occurring in roughly 1% of all people, and although repeated epileptic seizures are its clinical hallmark, epilepsy is not just a medical phenomenon, but a social construct, with cultural, political, and financial consequences. People with epilepsy are exposed to stigma and burdened with disadvantages which can be far reaching. There are indeed many remedies, but no cure. This book provides a biography of modern epilepsy in the form of a brief and selective narrative of some of the important developments in medical and social epilepsy research, with its many ups and downs, over the period since 1860. Its anatomy of modern epilepsy in eight chapters is, inevitably in this short book, selective, and intentionally provocative. The book’s main objective is to provide both a survey of the evolution of epilepsy and its treatment in the post-Jacksonian era, and also a critical look at where we are today and how we got there. This book tries to make an effort to separate the wheat from the chaff in the development of better epilepsy care. Good and bad events and concepts of historic consequence are discussed. It is acknowledged that, although the end of epilepsy is in reach of some, there is at present no prescribed scientific path to the end of epilepsy for others. Regardless of the severity of epilepsy, patients, with the support of their physicians and modern medicine, must create their own solutions to the multiple issues they face.Less

This resource traces the history of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in detail along with a commentary of Edward Meryon's research, which has led to our current understanding of the disease, with full references and informative, historically relevant illustrations.Less

Blood and the history of the diagnoses and treatment of blood diseases are of interest to many people. This book traces the development of the interest in diseases of the blood since earliest times. Rituals associated with blood together with a belief held until relatively recently that blood contains the soul or memory is explored. Certain figures that appear to have been airbrushed out of history are rightly reinstated. The role of conflict/war as a catalyst in developing new techniques especially in blood transfusion are documented from the early part of the twentieth century through the Spanish Civil War and the two world wars, including the research into the making of the atomic bomb. The halcyon days of the early 1980s, subsequently followed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, are explored, together with the human response to that crisis. Novel developments since the 1980s are documented, including changes in diagnostic technologies and the genetic revolution. The success of the treatment of malignant blood diseases, culminating in the concept of ‘personalized medicine’ is critically evaluated. The new era in haematology, as in other branches of medicine, will undoubtedly bring challenges as well as benefits. The relationships between doctors and their patients are undergoing profound changes, and the final results of that change may throw up more problems than solutions. The relentless increase in bureaucracy and the takeover by modern management techniques is critically evaluated.Less

Written by two radiologists who have a passion for the history of their field, The History of Radiology is a beautifully illustrated review of the remarkable developments within radiology and the scientists and pioneers who were involved. This engaging and authoritative history will appeal to a wide audience including medical students studying for the Diploma in the History of Medicine of the Society of Apothecaries (DHMSA), doctors, medical physicists, medical historians and radiographers.Less

Palliative medicine was first recognized as a specialist field in the United Kingdom in 1987. One hundred years earlier, the London-based doctor William Munk had published a treatise on ‘easeful death’ that mapped out the principles of practical, spiritual, and medical support at the end of life. In the intervening years a major process of development took place, which led to innovative services, new approaches to the study and relief of pain and other distressing symptoms, a growing interest in ‘holistic’ care for those with advanced disease, and a desire to gain more recognition for end-of-life care. This book traces the history of palliative medicine, from its nineteenth-century origins, to its modern practice around the world today. It takes in the changing meaning of ‘euthanasia’; assesses the role of religious and philanthropic organizations in the creation of homes for the dying; and explores how twentieth-century doctors created a special focus on the care of those for whom cure or recovery is not possible. To Comfort Always traces the rise of clinical studies, academic programmes, and international collaborations to promote palliative care. It examines the continuing need to provide evidence in support of development and assesses the dilemmas of unequal access to services and pain-relieving drugs, as well as the periodic accusations of creeping medicalization within the field. The first history of its kind, it concludes with some reflections on the achievements of palliative medicine to date and the challenges that remain.Less