Philosophic Whigs explores the links between scientific activity and politics in the early nineteenth century. Through a study of the Edinburgh medical school, L.S. Jacyna analyses the developments in medical education in the context of the social and political relationships within the local Whig community. Philosophic Whigs is a fascinating study of the links between science and the society that produces it.

"Philosophic Whigs" explores the links between scientific activity and politics and offers new insights into the form and content of medical education in early 19th-century Scotland. Through a study of the Thomson family, a medical dynasty active in Edinburgh from 1789 to 1848, the author describes how the Thomsons acted as medical entrepreneurs, developing novel forms of pedagogy in their attempt to secure their position within the competitive and acrimonious environment of the Edinbugh Medical School. Jacyna also considers the political allegiances and opinions of the Thomsons and their close associates. He includes them in the wide circle of other "philosophical Whigs", such as Francis Jeffrey and Henry Brougham, and illustrates how Scottish professorial appointments were often decided on the political, rather than the professional, merits of a candidate. For the Edinburgh Whig intelligentsia, intellectual, and especially scientific, activities were seen as a means of expressing a political identity.

This book, first published in 2006, is a detailed and authoritative account of the last two centuries of the development of 'Western' medicine, a tradition now important everywhere in the world. It is written by leading experts who not only describe the most important people, events, and transformations, but give explanations for why medicine developed as it did, becoming as important as it has in the modern world. It contains one of the first historical summaries of the development of medicine after the Second World War. It is an authoritative source of new information as well as a synthesis of the current state of knowledge on this fascinating subject. The Western Medical Tradition, 1800-2000 is a companion volume to The Western Medical Tradition, 800 BC to AD 1800.

Essays from noted contributors trace the evolution of the neurological patient's role, treatment, and place in the history of medicine. Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Tourette's, multiple sclerosis, stroke: all are neurological illnesses that create dysfunction, distress, and disability. With their symptoms ranging from impaired movement and paralysis to hallucinationsand dementia, neurological patients present myriad puzzling disorders and medical challenges. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries countless stories about neurological patients appeared in newspapers, books, medical papers, and films. Often the patients were romanticized; indeed, it was common for physicians to cast neurological patients in a grand performance, allegedly giving audiences access to deep philosophical insights about the meaning of life and being. Beyond these romanticized images, however, the neurological patient was difficult to diagnose. Experiments often approached unethical realms, and treatment created challenges for patients, courts, caregivers, and even for patient advocacy organizations. In this kaleidoscopic study, the contributors illustrate how the neurological patient was constructed in history and came to occupy its role in Western culture. Stephen T. Casper is assistant professor in Humanities and Social Sciences at Clarkson University. L. Stephen Jacyna is reader in the History of Medicine and Director of the Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London.

This book, first published in 2006, is a detailed and authoritative account of the last two centuries of the development of 'Western' medicine, a tradition now important everywhere in the world. It is written by leading experts who not only describe the most important people, events, and transformations, but give explanations for why medicine developed as it did, becoming as important as it has in the modern world. It contains one of the first historical summaries of the development of medicine after the Second World War. It is an authoritative source of new information as well as a synthesis of the current state of knowledge on this fascinating subject. The Western Medical Tradition, 1800-2000 is a companion volume to The Western Medical Tradition, 800 BC to AD 1800.