Volume 17 (36)
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Item Front matter (2024) XVII(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024)Item Conservation of the Arthur von Hochstetter Collection(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Neisskenwirth, Fabian; Baldomero, OscarThis article describes the conservation project of a selection of specimens from the A. v. Hochstetter Collection, a collection of historical anatomical specimens used for the lectures of Professor Arthur H. C. von Hochstetter during his tenure at the University of Basel from the 1960s to the 1980s. The collection was donated to the Rīga Stradiņš University Anatomy Museum in 2022 and is now on permanent display. The biographical background of Professor Hochstetter is presented, along with the circumstances under which the collection was gathered, before being inherited by Oscar Baldomero, the current curator and owner of the remaining collection. The project aimed to achieve the highest standards in conservation practice. This involved utilising all available resources to gain a better understanding of the collection’s provenance and employing modern technology to identify the materials used, thereby creating an adequate conservation treatment that included restoration of some of the specimens and their attached materials. Fluid-preserved specimens were transferred to new preservation fluids and mounted in customised jars to ensure their better display. The conservation treatment successfully preserved the significance of the collection, maintaining its historical and educational value. Thus, it can continue to inform and inspire future generations. The true wonder of collections like these lies in their ability to connect us across centuries, demonstrating how some of the earliest anatomical preparations and medical teaching methods have laid the foundations for practices in use today.Item Vārda spēks: hipnoze un pašhipnoze padomju Latvijā(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Lībiete, Ieva; Garnizone, MarikaHipnoze, kas Latvijā 20. gadsimta pirmajā pusē bija vien margināla medicīniska prakse, padomju Latvijā kļuva par vienu no zinātniski atzītām un ideoloģiski pieņemamām psihoterapijas metodēm. To īstenoja līdztekus racionālajai psihoterapijai un pašhipnozei jeb autogēnajam treniņam. Rakstā analizēts, kā hipnoze tika ieviesta padomju Latvijas medicīnas praksē un kas bija cilvēki, kuri to ieviesa, praktizēja un popularizēja kā zinātnisku un efektīvu terapijas metodi. Pievērsta arī uzmanība hipnozes un pašhipnozes praktizēšanai ārpus medicīnisko iestāžu sienām – psihohigiēnas klubos, šai praksei kļūstot par ne vien dziedinošu un izglītojošu, bet arī par izklaidējošu un varbūt pat garīgās prakses fenomenu.Item Symposia on the History of Medicine USSR-GDR: Bridging Medical Historians Through Scientific Exchange (1975‒1989)(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Salaks, Juris; Antonovičs, KasparsThis article examines eight symposia on the history of medicine held in the USSR and the GDR between 1975 and 1989. These symposia provided a significant platform for scholarly exchange between historians of medicine from both countries and became a tool contributing to the strengthening of “ideological unity” among the socialist bloc countries. Particular attention is given to their contribution to promoting socialist healthcare systems as an alternative to Western models. Drawing on archival and published materials, as well as participants’ testimonies, the study investigates the organisational aspects of these events, the evolution of their thematic focus, and their ideological impact on the development of historiography of medicine in the USSR and the GDR. The analysis highlights how the symposia served as instruments for benefiting scientific and bureaucratic elites in both nations, bolstering their influence. This work underscores the importance of these symposia in strengthening academic collaboration and advancing the socialist perspective on healthcare during the global East-West rivalry.Item Exchange in the History of Medicine and Natural Sciences between Unified Germany and Former Soviet Republics in the New Geopolitical Reality(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Kästner, IngridThis article examines the transformative journey of scientific collaboration among Germany, the Baltic States, and Russia in the fields of medical history and natural sciences, following the geopolitical upheavals of 1990. The dissolution of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the unification of Germany disrupted long-standing academic partnerships with Eastern Europe, while simultaneously opening new avenues for collaboration. Focusing on the Karl Sudhoff Institute (KSI), the article highlights its pivotal role in navigating these changes. Despite significant challenges, including the loss of resources and personnel, the institute capitalised on its well-equipped library and extensive scholarly network to rebuild and strengthen ties with Eastern European academics. The narrative focusses on projects funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) concentrated on the history of medicine and natural sciences during the 18th and 19th centuries. These initiatives fostered scholarly dialogue among historians of medicine and researchers from Germany, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and other countries through conferences, publications, and collaborative studies. Leveraging extensive archival materials, the projects addressed critical topics such as transfer of scientific ideas and evolution of institutional structures. By emphasising the broader implications of these collaborations, the article demonstrates how historical scholarship transcends geopolitical boundaries, fostering cultural and scientific cohesion. The study underscores the enduring value of international partnerships in advancing the understanding of medical history and promoting mutual intellectual engagement, even amidst shifting political contexts.Item Patversmes hroniski slimajiem Rīgā, Telts ielā 1, darbība: ieskats 20. gadsimta 20. gadu sociālajā vidē(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Smirnova, Anastasija1903. gadā dibinātā nespējnieku patversme Rīgā, Telts ielā 1, bija īpaša, jo tā bija sociālās aprūpes iestāde, kas deva iespēju saņemt arī medicīniska rakstura palīdzību ar dažādām slimībām sirgstošiem sabiedrībā visvairāk apdraudētajiem pieaugušajiem – “hroniski slimiem” (jeb neārstējamiem) nespējniekiem. Medicīniskās aprūpes funkciju patversme zaudēja 1926. gadā. Tā bija vecākā šāda veida iestāde Rīgā. Netālu esošā 1913. gadā dibinātā nespējnieku patversme Ģimnastikas ielā 1, atšķirībā no Telts ielas patversmes, uzņēma tos hroniski slimos nespējniekus, kuri varēja par sevi samaksāt. Patversme Ģimnastikas ielā kļuva par lielāko sociālās aprūpes iestādi pieaugušajiem Rīgā līdz 1940. gadam, bet patversme Telts ielā bija otrā lielākā sociālās aprūpes iestāde pieaugušajiem pēc aprūpējamo skaita. Raksta mērķis ir analizēt Telts ielas patversmes darbību Latvijas Republikā tās pastāvēšanas pirmajos desmit gados, galvenokārt balstoties uz Latvijas Nacionālā arhīva Latvijas Valsts vēstures arhīvā (turpmāk LNA LVVA) saglabātajiem dokumentiem par laiku no 1919. līdz 1929. gadam. Šajā rakstā pirmo reizi Latvijas historiogrāfijā detalizēti tiek analizēta 20. gadsimta sākuma sociālās apgādības iestādes darbība.Item Interdisciplinary Topics in the History of Medicine and Physics(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024) Giudici, SergioThe study presents the content of a series of seminars held in winter 2023 and spring 2024 at the Faculty of Medicine of Rīga Stradiņš University, aimed at providing students with deeper insights into the interdisciplinary topics between the history of medicine and hard sciences. In particular, the study showcases mutual influences between Life Sciences and Physics in the early 17th century when the “Emergence of Quantified Medicine” contributed to shaping methodologies of experimental science. The shift from qualitative to quantitative mentality has been discussed with a focus on scientific instruments such as the pulsilogium and thermoscope, which were initially developed for medical purposes and have presented significant challenges to physicists. To further illustrate consolidation of quantitative methods, historical cases – such as those of Dr. Semmelweis – have been revisited to demonstrate the use of statistical methods in evidence-based medical practice and underscore how quantitative reasoning became crucial in transforming medical epistemology.Item Back matter (2024) XVII(Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes Medicīnas vēstures institūts (Institute of History of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University), 2024)