From Medicine Men to Men of Medicine
From the beginning of written history, men of medicine have played an important role in civilization and society. Each of these minds brought new ways of thinking to their particular era through experimentation and discovery. The 19th century was an age of pioneering, exploration, and change. These things were thought to apply mainly to the areas of invention and the quest for land, yet the extent reached as far as the field of medicine. Advancement in American medicine took place in the 19th century, particularly in the old west. This scope includes both the native healer, and the frontier doctor who traded big, bustling cities for mining camps and ghost towns. The 19th century was a time when the face of western American medicine was changed forever, a time when medicine transitioned from a religious ritual to a skilled practice. The introduction of the frontier physician was a catalyst for the medical evolution in the west from medicine men to men of medicine.
Before pioneers began to move and settle out west, the Native Americans ruled the frontier. We find that in every tribe every person had a specific duty to perform. The tribal chief was overseer of every tribal affair, warriors fought battles for the tribe, women were responsible for cooking and raising children, and any ailment or injury was tended to by the medicine man. The life of the medicine man was probably the most trying and stress-filled of the whole tribe. The process of becoming a medicine man in itself was rigorous and challenging.
At around the same time every year, most North American Indian tribes would perform a certain ritual that served as a means of choosing who the next medicine man would be. This test was a grueling ordeal, lasting several days. All young braves would assemble at the great medicine lodge. After three or four days of fasting, praying, privation, and observing older medicine men in practice, the ambitious young men were then to undergo the last and most trying part of the test for greatness. Any man that passed this part of the test was thought to be immortal by the tribe. They would gather once again in the medicine lodge and place themselves in a reclining position. The overseers of this ritual would then pinch an inch or two of the pectoral muscle on each side of each brave.
Binder, F. M. & Reimers, D. M. (2008). The Way We Lived: Essays and Documents in American Social History. Sixth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Co.
Twenty four centuries ago, Hippocrates created the profession of medicine, for the first time in human history separating and refining the art of healing from primitive superstitions and religious rituals. His famous Oath forged medicine into what the Greeks called a technik, a craft requiring the entire person of the craftsman, an art that, according to Socrates in his dialogue Gorgias, involved virtue in the soul and spirit as well as the hands and brain. Yet Hippocrates made medicine more than a craft; he infused it with an intrinsic moral quality, creating a “union of medical skill and the integrity of the person [physician]” (Cameron, 2001).
Faragher, John Mack et al (2009). Out of many: a history of the American people (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
The interesting theme of slavery dehumanizing both slave and master resonates clearly throughout Frederick Douglass’s narrative. I rate this work of literature a five out of five stars, since it puts the horrors of slavery in a more personal light, making it all the more repulsive. However, since the book followed themes and not chronological order, reading some portions was a challenge. Nevertheless, Douglass accomplished what his mission for the narrative was—to show that slaves are not inferior; ignorance is only a temporary result of slavery. Those, like Douglass, who wish to be free, cannot be held back by it.
In fact, Native American medicine men belief is firmly grounded in age-old traditions, legends and teachings. Healing and medical powers have existed since the very beginning of time according to Native American stories. Consequently they have handed down the tribe's antediluvian legends, which i...
Douglass’s work revealed how the slaves were treated as though they had neither value nor rights as human beings. Many times throughout Douglass’s life he witnessed the cruel beatings of his fellow slaves. One such example was when Douglass’s aunt Hester was whipped and beaten until she bled profusely (Douglass, 1845/1995, p. 4-5). The cruelty displayed through this occurrence was not uncommon in the slave-holding world. Although it seemed inhumane, the slaveholders of the South held no value in the lives of their numerous slaves. While it is not possible to know the actual feelings of these men, it is possible to speculate about the motivation behind their actions. What the Southern plantation owners knew was that their profitability and income fully depended on the productivity of their slaves. Therefore, strict guidelines and harsh punishment for not following them was imperative to keep their operations successful. What the slave holders failed to consider however, was the well-being and feelings of the workers. This greed for money was quite possibly what hardened their hearts against believing their slaves had actual feelings and needs. Consequently, some of...
Porter, Roy. The greatest benefit to mankind: a medical history of humanity. New York: W. W. Norton, 19981997. Print.
In 1954 another landmark act was passed in which all functions relating to the health and maintenance of healthcare to Indian Nations was given to the Surgeon General of the United States Public Health System (Wallechinsky). Within a year 48 hospitals, 18 health centers and 13 school infirmaries had been ...
Douglass's narrative is, on one surface, intended to show the barbarity and injustice of slavery. However, the underlying argument is that freedom is not simply attained through a physical escape from forced labor, but through a mental liberation from the attitude created by Southern slavery. The slaves of the South were psychologically oppressed by the slaveholders' disrespect for a slave’s family and for their education, as well as by the slaves' acceptance of their own subordination. Additionally, the slaveholders were trapped by a mentality that allowed them to justify behavior towards human beings that would normally not be acceptable. In this manner, both slaveholder and slave are corrupted by slavery.
Darkness is often used at times in the play when a tragic event has occurred. The morning after Macbeth killed Duncan remained in darkness, because the sun did not rise. "Is ‘t the night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of the earth entomb when living light should kiss it?" (2:4, 10-12) Ross said these words referring to the unusual darkness of the day. He wondered if the night had become stronger than the day, and overcome it, so that the sun could no longer shine. He mused that it seemed as though the earth was shrouded with the darkness, when the light of the sun that brings life should have ensconced it. In this quote, darkness symbolizes death and light symbolizes life. It suggests that the whole country is as good as dead since their king has been killed, because the natural order has been disturbed. The disturbance to the natural order caused all of nature is disturbed, d...
and family, and also “meet like-minded people” ( Metz, par. 1). In some cases, business people such as Ron West, claim that he uses Facebook “to become acquainted with new customers”( par. 8). Yes, these types of websites are great tools to stay in touch with old classmatesand faraway family members. It is a great source of communication, but there is always a con to every pro. Even though users are connecting with others, users of social networks never know exact...
In recent years, social networking sites have rapidly gained popularity among people at all ages. A large number of people have registered and become members of some social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Wechat. Also, people spend a lot of time on these sites chatting, playing games, and making friends. Social networking sites have become a part of people’s life. However, what accounts for the popularity of these sites? As far as I’m concerned, this phenomenon, which social networking sites are very popular nowadays, is caused by three important reasons.
Paracelsus (1493-1541). (2008). Brought to Life: Exploring the History of Medicine. Retrieved from Science Museum Online http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/paracelsus.aspx
In its own way, it enhances the penetration of your toner, moisturizer and hyaluronic acid by sloughing off the dry, aged and dead skin cells on the surface.
While with the constant use of these social technologies, less people are communicating in person, this type of technology might be doing more harm than good because with the rise of websites such as Facebook, social networking may be on the verge of replacing traditional personal interactions for the next generation. Social networks were created for the sole purpose of helping individuals communicate. There are many other reasons that these technologies are used, but communication is still the number one. It is not only changing how we communicate, but how we interact with each other in daily life.