Number 18

NEWS
letter Summer, 1993

Hannah Institute for the History of Medicine

Professor puts chronic
fatigue into historical
perspective
DRAWING CM HIS THOUGHT-PROVOKING BOOK FROM PARALYSIS TO
FATIGUE, THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO'S HANNAH PROFESSOR EDWARD
SHORTER TOOK THE SUBJECT OF PSYCHOGEMC DISORDERS TO FAMILY
DOCTORS LAST MAY.
Delivering the Hannah
Lecture in the History of
Medicine at the Annual
Scientific Assembly of the
College of Family Physicians
of Canada, Professor Shorter
found an audience with special
needs.
"They haven't been exposed
to the work of historians," says
Professor Shorter. "It was a real
personal challenge to say
something meaningful to an
audience of clinicians."
"It was quite illuminating
for them to see how patterns of
psychogenic illness change
historically—to see something
like paralysis be replaced by
chronic fatigue syndrome."
AAHM
Seven Canadian scholars, all
with connections to the Hannah
Institute, presented papers to
the meeting of the American
Association for the History of
Medicine in Louisville,
Kentucky, from May 13 to 16.
This year's participants were
the University of Western
Ontario's Jennifer J. Connor;
Dalhousie University's John
Farley, Jock Murray and
Janet Murray; Simon Fraser
University's John F.
Hutchinson; University of
Toronto doctoral candidate
Christopher Rutty; and
doctoral candidate Walter J.
Vanast from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison.
Queen's University Hannah
Professor Jackie Duffin will be
programme chair of next year's
AAHM meeting to be held in
New York City.
CSHM
Ottawa's Carleton Univer-
sity was the scene of this year's
meeting of the Canadian Society
for the History of Medicine.
In addition to the broad range
of papers presented at the June 4
to 6 meeting, McMaster Univer-
sity's Hannah Professor Chuck
Roland was elected president of
the Society.
And the newly appointed
Hannah affiliate professor at
Quebec City's Universite Laval,
Jacques Bernier, was elected
vice-president.
Asylum in
the city
In late June, the Hannah
Institute sponsored well-known
American medical historian
Andrew Scull to give the
keynote address, " What Can We
Learn from the Past?" at The
City and the Asylum—a multi-
faceted and multi-media look at
the history of mental health in
Toronto. 03
What's Inside
Conference Notes 1
Programme Profiles 2
Gazette 2-3
Scholarship news 3-4

GAZE
Murphy moves on
If you've called the
Hannah Institute over the
years, you'll be familiar with
the friendly voice of Betty
Murphy. Betty retired
recently after five years'
service. We wish Betty all
the best in her future
endeavors and welcome on
board Lee Shane.
Lee brings her talents in
office management to the
Hannah Institute from
Toronto's Ryerson
Polytechnical Institute.
m helped coordinate the exchange along with
Royal College
meeting mulls
medicare mayhem
The current national
health care crisis can
seem downright
depressing to anyone who
follows the daily doom
and gloom presented in
the media.
But the Royal College
ofPhysidans and
Surgeons' annual meeting
might be just what the
doctor ordered—a week
of reflection, analysis and
some much-needed
perspective to turn all
that negative energy into
some good.
From September 9 to
13 in Vancouver, the
conference probes the
need for change and the
ways and means to do it
Symposia include
"Can Our Health Care
System be Saved?," and
the Hannah Institute's
symposium, "Crisis!
What Crisis? Historical
Perspectives on the
Canadian Health Care
System." It is hoped a
sober second look will
elevate participants above
the daily maelstrom.
CONTO ONPG3
H A N N A H I N S T I T
Can we talk? Hannah promotes
communication between medical schools
THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF CANADA'S MEDICAL SCHOOLS CAN BE BOTH A STRENGTH AND A
DRAWBACK. AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM SPONSORED BY THE HANNAH INSTITUTE HOPES TO BRING THE
SCHOOLS A LITTLE CLOSER BY OPENING UP THE COMMUNICATION LINES FROM COAST TO COAST.
The first exchange took place this April
between the University of Western Ontario
and the University of Calgary. Medical
students met at Western for three days of
talks and socializing.
"One of the objectives is to have each
student work up a talk of ten minutes to
stimulate further research," says UWO
Hannah Professor Paul Potter, who
Up close with a Neilson Award winner
Dr. C. Stuart Houston makes a good
case for the nurture-over-nature argument.
The latest winner of the Hannah Institute's
prestigious Neilson Award says the
culture of self-reliance in Saskatchewan
fermented his rich career in medicine and
medical history.
An impressive array of accomplish-
ments has embellished the career of the
65-year-old doctor.
He's a radiologist at Saskatoon's Royal
University Hospital, and accomplished in
two fields he calls "hobbies": he's spent
20 years teaching and produced five
books in the field of medical history, and
is also a recognized ornithologist.
He's frank about the satisfaction of
being recognized. "People like to be
stroked."
Ottawa exhibits hysteria
An exhibit highlighting the puzzling
concept of hysteria has won praise from
die patrons of the University of Ottawa's
Morisset Library.
Hannah Chair Toby Gelfand and
doctoral candidate Wei Yuan combined
research with colour illustrations and
selected books from the library's Hannah
U T E F O R T H E H I S T O R Y O F M E D I C I N I
PROGRAMME PROFILES
Calgary's Dr. Peter Cruse.
Topics ranged from diseases among the
Cree of Alberta to the old medical art of
uroscopy.
Professor Potter says he hopes the
exchange will became a regular annual
affair, possibly with next year's exchange
matching Calgary with Halifax's
Dalhousie University.
Dr. Houston says mentors hi his youth
helped turn him on to his current inter-
ests.
"We had an outstanding high school
history teacher who was also niy scout
master," says Dr. Houston. "Without that
I don't believe I would have become
what I am. These people got me writing
and researching. All of this stimulated
me—very heady and exciting."
Dr. Houston plans to keep teaching
until the university's official retirement
age of 67, and has several books at
various stages. One, tentatively titled
When Saskatchewan Led the World, is
still being researched, while another book
he worked on with his wife, Eighteenth-
Century Naturalists of Hudson Bay, is in
the final draft stages.
collection for this public exhibit which
closed June 10.
According to the University of Otta-
wa's Debra Ann Begg, this dark page
from the history of psychiatric diagnosis
raised awareness "of the library's unique
holdings hi this subject area." 03
H A N N A H N S T I T U T E F O R T H E H I S T O R Y O F M E D

SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

Application forms updated for the 1990s The Hannah

Grant season is upon us again, but this software package as some of you had symposium will present
year veteran form fillers will notice a requested. As a compromise, the new four noted authorities
substantial make-over to the Hannah applications will allow the use of word from both Canada and
Institute's applications. The changes are processors for most of the information the United States,
intended to propel the forms forward, out requested, and should save time and including: Professor
of the 1970s and into the age of the Barry Edginton
eliminate unnecessary headaches.
from the University of
personal computer, by incorporating an Please ensure that you use only the new Winnipeg and editor-in-
eye-pleasing, logical layout. Hannah applications and destroy all out- chief of the newly created
Unfortunately, at this stage the forms of-date forms. journal Health and
can't be fully computer-friendly through a Canadian Society;
plus two presenters
Separate scholarships for MAs, PhDs from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison;
For the first time, we are introducing a students more time to find their feet when Ronald L Numbers,
separate scholarship for first year MA starting graduate studies. William Coleman
students. In the past, first year MA From now on, PhDs and second-year Professor of the History
students had to compete against advanced MAs must request a GENERAL SCHOL- of Medicine and Science,
MA and PhD students. The new changes ARSHIP form. The deadline of November Robert L Sullivan,
and deadline of January 13 will give these 1 remains the same. senior researcher
specializing in the history
of medical systems In
Funding deadlines North America; and
Professor Angus
Grants General scholarships McLaren of the
Grants-in-Aid are designed to provide These scholarships are for highly quali- University of Victoria.
resources to qualified researchers who fied individuals who are registered hi a full- As well, the Hannah
propose to study a significant issue related time programme in the history of medicine Institute has put together
to the history of medicine in Canada. leading to an MA or PhD degree. The an exhibit titled 'The
History of medicine is interpreted broadly scholarships are only tenable at Canadian Medical History Behind
to include all of the related human health universities with appropriate faculty and the Media Headlines."
sciences. facilities to support graduate study in the "The exhibit is about
history of medicine. putting the media head-
deadline: November I
lines and the current
Value $14,865; $28,810 for MA or PhD
Fellowships issues determined by
students with an MD degree.
These are available competitively to the media into historical
highly qualified individuals who have deadline: November I context, demonstrating
obtained either a PhD in the history of to the medical profession
First year MA scholarships the issues have been
medicine or related field or an MD degree,
These scholarships are for highly- around a longtime,"
and who are embarking on a period of full-
qualified FIRST YEAR MA STUDENTS says exhibit curator
time post-doctoral study in the history of
only, registered in a full-time programme in Janet Thompson.
medicine. Awards are for two years only.
the history of medicine leading to an MA. Exploring the changing
Some new conditions apply to this
The scholarships are only tenable at Cana- role ofheakh<are
award, so please contact the Hannah
dian universities with appropriate faculty institutions, technology,
Institute before applying.
and facilities to support graduate study in the ro/e of women as
Value $28,810 the history of medicine. practitioners, the patient-
physician relationship,
deadline: November I Value $14,865; $28,810 for FIRST YEAR
hospital care, "high-tech"
MA STUDENTS with an MD degree.
Special grants medidne and medicare,
Letters of application for Special deadline: January 13 the exhibit uses an
Grants, including the new Museum and Studentships for undergraduates accessible and direct
Archives Internship Grant, are welcome. approach to the old
Three-month undergraduate studentships
adage that every tree
deadline: October I and April I are available to students to carry out
CdNTD.- has its root
 H A N N A H I N S T I T U T E F O R T H E T O R Y O F M E D I C I N E

research in the history of medicine contact the Hannah Institute for

under the supervision of a faculty
member. Medical and history
details.
John B. Neilson Award
NEWS
VipTTPT
C If I/ C I
students are given preference.
This award recognizes ongoing
Value $3,675
contributions to the history of
deadline: January 20 medicine by a Canadian physician
whose primary responsibilities have The Newsletter is produced
Publications assistance been in some other area of the three times a year by:
Scholars wishing funding for profession. Hannah Institute for the
publications assistance should deadline: January 31 ffl History of Medicine
14 Prince Arthur Avenue
Suite #101
Toronto, Ontario
ANNOUNCEMENT M5R 1A9

Telephone 416-924-3368
To mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of the City of York— Fax 416-323-3338
now Toronto—a half day free medical history symposium will take place
October 16.
Medicine in Toronto: 200 years will include Hannah Professors Editor-in-Chief
Charles G. Roland and Jackie Duffin as well as well-known historians J.T.H. Connor
Michael Bliss and Heather MacDougall.
Interested participants can write or call Dr. Arthur Gryfe, Queensway Editor and Writer
General Hospital, Toronto Medical History Club, 150 Sherway Drive, David South
Etobicoke, M9C 1A5,
416-259-6671
Layout
David South
Symposium location
Start time: 9:15 a.m.
Toronto Hospital Residence, Main Auditorium, 90 Gerrard St. West The Newsletter welcomes
information from readers
about Hannah-supported
( MOVING? Name: activities, publications, or
| RECEIVE THE other related medical
• NEWSLETTER.' Street: history events.
City: ..
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