HoS Micropost: Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius turns 400
Yet another anniversary to celebrate today: the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius.
Posted by Darin on 03/13 at 11:45 PM
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PACHSmörgåsbord: History
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Uranus-Lowell-Pluto
The latest in my Pluto project posts. This post, on the anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of a trans-Neptunian object, looks as some of those earliest announcements to see how they portrayed the discovery and who got credit for making it.
Posted by Darin on 03/13 at 11:30 PM
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Monday, March 08, 2010
Medicines for the Faithful
This (long) post offers some thoughts about Peruna and its continued success into the 20th century. I suggest that Peruna’s success needs to be seen within the context of a continuing belief in astrology, particularly amongst certain populations in the U.S. I highlight the ways that Peruna’s astrological claims would resonate with the Amish and Mennonite communities.
Posted by Darin on 03/08 at 02:47 PM
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Thursday, February 04, 2010
S. W. Mitchell and Phantom Limbs
The Civil War surgeon S. Wier Mitchell was one of the first physicians to study phantom limb syndrome. He collaborated with W.W. Keen and G.R. Morehouse at Turner’s Lane Hospital in Philadelphia (aka Stump Hospital). Their work formed the foundation for groundbreaking research on and understanding of neurological injuries.
Posted by Darin on 02/04 at 11:11 PM
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Kepler on supernova, theology and astrology
Johannes Kepler, who was born on 27 December 1571, is the subject of a couple recent interesting articles. These articles are an opportunity to see how Kepler was typical of the early-modern European scholar, a person as interested in astronomy and optics (our notion of sciences) as theology and astrology.
Posted by Darin on 12/31 at 01:17 PM
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Friday, October 30, 2009
Gold, Elixirs and Books of Secrets
A lecture on alchemy, as part of the Year of Science
Posted by Anke on 10/30 at 05:03 PM
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wright’s Indian Vegetable Pills
Another bit of local patent medicine history. This copy of Wright’s almanac was sold at Frank T. Landis’s shop in Womelsdorf, PA.
Posted by Darin on 10/18 at 05:33 PM
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Dr. Jayne’s Family Medicines: A Philadelphia based Patent Medicine Company
Dr. Jayne’s was one of the first patent medicine companies in the U.S. to issue annual almanacs. By the 1850s the company was one of the most successful patent medicine companies in the U.S. This post looks at Dr. Jayne’s efforts to brand and protect its patent medicines, and then concludes with some brief reflection on the value of studying patent medicines.
Posted by Darin on 10/11 at 11:31 PM
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Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Quack medical cures: J.C. Ayer and the persistence of personal testimony
J.C. Ayer, another patent medicine company, relied on recipe books and personal testimony to sell its cure-all: Sarsaparilla.
Posted by Darin on 10/07 at 12:07 PM
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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Selling Medicines in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century
A short look at the marketing efforts of Dr. Miles Medical Company, a patent medicine company in Elkhart, IN. It is interesting to note the prominent place of astrology in the company’s marketing efforts.
Posted by Darin on 10/01 at 11:35 PM
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