Civilization and Disease

by Henry E. Sigerist

Civilization and Disease BY Henry E. Sigerist PREFACE THE PRESENT BOOK is based on a series of six Messenger Lectures that I delivered at Cornell University in Ithaca in November and December 1940. I am very much indebted to the authorities of the University and Press for the permission to develop the six lectures into a book of twelve chapters, and I also very much appreciate the patience they have shown in waiting for a much delayed manuscript. While I was writing this book, I relived the very pleasant weeks it was my privilege to spend on the Cornell campus, and I am deeply grateful to the authorities of the University, to faculty and students for the delightful hospitality extended to me. I wish to mention particularly the keen and enthusiastic members of the Telluride Association whose guest I was during my visit. I shall always remember with great pleasure the stimulating discussions we had on many an evening. The subject of this book is one in which I have been interested for many years. In the pursuit of these studies I was greatly en couraged by Dr. Ludwig Kast, the unforgettable first President of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, with whom I discussed these problems many times and through whom I obtained a substantial grant from the Josiah Macy Jr, Foundation which made it possible to acquire source materials needed for this book, and for which I wish to express my paroffijid gratitude. And finally I wish tohank my coworkers, the members pf my staff and particularly Dr. Erwin H. Ackerknecht, for advice and criticism Genevieve Miller, my former student and present collaborator who took a very active part in the preparation of this book Hope Trebing and Janet Brock who helped to get the manu script ready for publication. I am much indebted to Mr. Harold Ward in New York, who read the manuscript critically and greatly improved it with valuable suggestions.

Genres: Medicine, History

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Henry Ernest Sigerist (7 April 1891, Paris, France – 17 March 1957, Pura, Switzerland) was a Swiss medical historian.

After graduating M.D. at the University of Zurich in 1917, Sigerist devoted himself to the study of history of medicine. Socialized Medicine in the Soviet Union (1937), and History of Medicine were among his most important works. He emerged as a major spokesman for "compulsory health insurance". From 1932 to 1947 was director at Johns Hopkins University institute of history of medicine. He received financial aid from the Rockefeller Institute. He attacked the American Medical Association because of his conflicting views on socialized medicine. Dr. Sigerist was influential in the creation of socialized medicine in Canada. He made four trips to Canada in the 1930s and 1940s at the invitation of various medical groups to speak on this topic. Under his influence, Saskatchewan introduced state-funded medical and hospital care for pensioners, people on welfare and cancer patients after being hired to write a report in 1944 by Tommy Douglas the socialist Premier of that Canadian province. This was the basis for the eventual adoption of government funded health care in all of Canada.

Sigerist died in 1957, and his passing was mourned among many in the medical community, although his views on socialized medicine were often glossed over in obituaries in national newspapers. Although Sigerist's influence waned during the mid 1900s, he has slowly become an important figure again in medical history. An organization of medical historians have named themselves the Sigerist Circle, and books such as Making Medical History: The Life and Times of Henry E. Sigerist by Theodore M. Brown and Elizabeth Fee have begun to reintroduce Sigerist's legacy to the world.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a broad overview of the topic with science that is now almost a century out of date, so I am not sure what it adds to resurrect this old book now in 2018.
Although not brand new either, I would recommend instead Thomas McKeown or William McNeill:

[Jason Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly interesting look at how disease has affected man. The concentration of this book is mostly the renaissance and until the time of the writing in the mid 20th century. Various attributes of civilization including literature art music etc. are explored. The author writes at a time of enthusiasm for the Soviet experiment during the tragedies of World War II.

[Fiona Montgomery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dated!

[Doug Mckeever · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thorough and interesting read of the way society has handled disease in its history. The most interesting part is the fact that he is writing as WWII is about to start and that perspective is fascinating.