History of Medicine

Malaria and Western Colonialism are intricately involved in history, with each having a profound effect on the other. As I wrote in an earlier post, it was the fear of malaria that protected Africa from colonization for many centuries. Labeling it the "white man's grave," European colonizers shunned the continent because of the high mortality rate suffered by Europeans who were not naturally immunized against African diseases like malaria. However, with the discovery of quinine in the 1850's, the Europeans finally found a way to combat the deadly disease, and the entire continent was colonized within thirty years. Quinine had such a far-reaching effect on the African subcontinent that it is often termed "the cure that changed the world." Map showing presence of malaria in Africa Colonization led to export of human labor from Africa, and with that, the export of malaria. Just as malaria had kept colonization out of Africa before, now colonization helped sprea

The face mask became ubiquitous during the covid-19 pandemic, but its history dates long before it became one of the most politically charged controversies of 2020. In fact, it was well-known and widely used by both medical personnel and the public during the 1918 flu pandemic and also became common in China and Korea during the SARS outbreak. Red Cross nurses wearing face masks during 1918 pandemic  But it had made an appearance centuries ago, as long back as the 1600s. Thanks to the miasma theory of disease, which attributed diseases to bad air, people often tried to protect themselves with cloth coverings on their faces during epidemics or while tending to the sick. The idea was the same as today's mask use but without an understanding of germs. This was most stark during the various plague outbreaks. Plague masks became common in the 1600s and were worn by doctors while treating the infected. The plague masks were however, rather comical with long elongated beaks and two nostri

Today on calendae Ianuariae , or first day of January, we celebrate the beginning of a new year. The Latin word Calendae means the first day of every month in the Roman calendar. (Rather obvious is the English word "calendar" that is derived from it.) Ianuarius is the month of January, named after Janus, the Roman god of all beginnings and origins, the guardian of doors, gateways, and passages, and the patron of agreements and alliances. There is no equivalent god to Janus in Greek mythology.  Two-faced Janus God looking backwards and forward Calendae Ianuariae became significant in 153 BC when Julius Caesar added two months before March to better align with the solar cycle. On this day, Roman consuls took office (instead of the traditional Ides of March as done earlier).  Julian calendar with the two additional months added before March On this Calendae Ianuariae, let's toast to new beginnings, new pathways, and a new future filled with limitless possibilities! Novus Ann