Rats, Lice, and Mice: The History of Disease and Medicine in the Western World (HIST 463)

                              MWF 8:30-9:20am (room H003); 3 credits

                                       Instructor: Dr. John C. Horgan

                                                   Office: LU205J

                                                 Phone: 243-4515

E-Mail: jhorgan@cuw.edu

                                                 Office hours: MWF 12-1pm

Texts

Hays, J.N., The Burdens of Disease

Preston, Richard. The Hot Zone

Course Overview

This course examines the history of medicine and disease in the West from antiquity until the 20th century.  Our overall theme is the biological and cultural impact of disease (especially epidemics) on society. We will try to understand how cultures have understood epidemics in the past and how they have responded to disease through medical systems.  We will look at the formation of the western medical tradition in antiquity, the development of academic medicine in the Middle Ages, the development of anatomy and ideas about the body, hospitals and public health systems, the rise of epidemiology, modern technological and scientific breakthroughs, and the professionalization of medical practice.

Objectives

As a result of taking this course, students will:

A.   become familiar with the scientific and medical language used for describing epidemiological episodes;

B. identify major occurrences of disease outbreaks around the globe throughout time;

C. list specific demographic, economic, social, and medical consequences of the surveyed episodes;

D. relate the historical state of medical knowledge & practices and public health facilities to epidemic episodes.

Student & Classroom Expectations

* You will attend every class, be fully prepared and give your full attention to the material.

* You will dress, speak and conduct yourself in an appropriate manner.

* You will agree to do the work outlined on the syllabus on time.

* You will, on all assignments and exams, demonstrate a mastery of the material.

* You will acknowledge that previous academic preparation (e.g. writing skills) will affect your performance in this course.

* You will acknowledge that your perception of effort, by itself, is not enough to justify a distinguished grade.

* You will fulfill all required assignments in order to be considered for a passing grade.

* You will not plagiarize or otherwise steal the work of others.

* You will not make excuses for your failure to do what you ought.

* You will accept the consequences of your actions.

Plagiarism Policy

The use and/or misuse of other's ideas or words without proper citation and/or credit is unacceptable. If a student is caught plagiarizing, the student will receive a failing grade on the assignment and immediate dismissal from the course. All appropriate documentation will be submitted to the Office of the Academic Vice President for further review and disciplinary action.

Writing Center [http://www.cuw.edu/Academics/programs/history/writing_center.html] 

All students are required to access, learn and apply the information on these web pages. Included are formats for bibliography and footnotes, common writing errors and omissions, paper evaluation guidelines and the department's official policy on plagiarism.

Students with Disabilities 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities.  If you are a student with a documented disability and will need accommodations to access the course content of this class, please inform me as soon as possible and contact the Learning Resource Center in LU202.  

Attendance

Students are responsible for attending all scheduled classes and completing all course requirements. Seven absences will result in the student's withdrawal from the course. Since the instructor will present material not found within the textbook, and since a portion of the final grade will be based on class participation, regular attendance is expected of all students.

Setting the Scene

The instructor will deliver a series of lectures throughout the semester related to the assigned textbook chapters and/or topics. These lectures will provide a more detailed narrative or interpretation of those topics.  In addition, videos will be shown to supplement both the reading and lectures.

Textbook Chapter Presentations

Each student will be assigned a chapter (or portion of a chapter) to present to the class in a 5-7 minute presentation. The student should identify those 5 most important points raised in the chapter to highlight and discuss. All other students may simply identify the 5 most important points as well as 3 questions raised by the chapter's content. After the short presentation, the presenter will field 1-2 questions from the rest of the students. See the semester calendar for appropriate due dates.

Hot Zone book review

The Ebola virus kills nine out of ten of its victims so quickly and gruesomely that even biohazard experts are terrified. It is airborne, it is extremely contagious, and in the winter of 1989, it seemed about to burn through the suburbs of Washington D.C. At Fort Detrick's USAMRIID, an Army research facility outside the nation's capital, a SWAT team of soldiers and scientists wearing biohazard space suits was organized to stop the outbreak of the exotic "hot" virus. The grim operation went on in secret for eighteen days, under unprecedented, dangerous conditions. The Hot Zone tells this dramatic story in depth, giving a hair-raising account of the appearance of rare and lethal viruses and their outbreaks in the human race. From a remote African cave hot with Ebola virus, to an airplane over Africa that is carrying a sick passenger who dissolves into a human virus bomb, to the confines of a Biosafety Level 4 military lab where scientists risk their lives studying lethal substances that could kill them quickly and horribly, The Hot Zone describes situations that a few years ago would have been taken for science fiction. As the tropical wildernesses of the world are destroyed, previously unknown viruses that have lived undetected in the rain forest for eons are entering human populations. The appearance of AIDS is part of a larger pattern, and the implications for the future of the human species are terrifying.

After reading the book, discuss the followingin an essay of 4-5 pages: (1) What are the major issues surrounding the outbreak of lethal viruses; and (2) what are the necessary responses needed to comabt such an incident.

Assignments

Students should select 3 of the following assignments to complete. Due dates will be noted on the course calendar. Be prepared to share findings with the class in a brief 2-4 minute oral presentation. Each written assignment must be 2-3 pages in length, typed, and double-spaced. Students may select an option only once. Students are encouraged to consult outside sources but must provide appropriate citations. See the Semester Calendar below for due dates. The student may decide which assignment they will submit on which date but each student must submit an assignment on the assigned due dates. No late papers.

Newspaper account/opinion of major event.

• select major event of year
• read seven days of selected newspaper (include Sunday edition)
• summarize stories/editorials
• your assessment/evaluation

 

Personal interview.

• conduct interview with relative, friend, acquaintance who lived during period/episode
• solicit their opinion on major events and/or major figures, lessons, etc.
• your assessment/evaluation

Annotated Bibliography: The student should select a narrow topic and develop a bibliography of 20-25 secondary articles or essays related to the topic. The student should annotate 7-10 of the chosen sources. An annotation is a brief summary, generally a paragraph in length (3-5 sentences), of the main points, including thesis, of the text. See the following web site fro requirements of an annotation: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm#appraise

Critical Book Review: Choose an academic study, novel, or personal memoir on any episode and write a critical book review. The following question must be answered in the review: How does the work chosen further our understanding of the period? See the following web page for requirements of review: http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/bookreview/index.cfm

Critical Essay Review: Choose two articles (7 pages or more) on a topic related to an episode for purpose of comparison. Consult the following web site fro assistance in completing the assignment: http://essayinfo.com/essays/critical_essay.php 

Web Modules http://www.cuw.edu/Academics/programs/history/courses/history_330/modules.html 

On the CUW History Department Web site are primary source web modules dealing with specific disease incidents Western history. Each module contains a group of primary source documents and a short essay assignment. Answers to the assignments must be in essay form and 2 pages in length. Students will be expected to form a thesis and argument in response to each assignment and follow proper citation format for citing evidence.

Critical Documentary or Movie Review: The student may watch a documentary program or full-length Hollywood movie about diseases or epidemics for purposes of review. Your essay must include more than a summary of the program or movie viewed. Your review should include answers to the following questions [for further help with writing a movie critique, see http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/v/j/vjw100/classroom/class390w/critique.htm]

 

·         What is the central message(s) of the program or movie?

·         Consider the effectiveness of the program or movie in communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?

·         How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond?

·         What information do you gain about the subject matter that would not be conveyed by a written source? Be specific 

Grading Policy

The final grade will be determined as follows: textbook chapter presentations; 3 assignments; Hot Zone book review; final exam; and class participation. Each assignment is given equal weight in determining the final grade.