136-039 Blood, Guts and Science

Formerly available as 136-225/325. Students who have completed 136-225/325 Social History of Medicine (or 136-039 Medicine and Society) are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually 75 points of first year study across any discipline areas.

This subject is a history of medicine from prehistory to the present, with a special emphasis on the past three hundred years. It explores the experience and understanding of disease and its therapies in different cultural settings, and the transformation in those understandings since the scientific revolution - from the magical to the molecular. It includes ancient medicine, the evolution of the hospital, the contest between lay and professional practitioners, dissection and the birth of the clinic, the discovery of the germ and the rise of the laboratory. What is the patient's story? How has medicine changed our experience and management of sickness, trauma, sexuality and difference? What do we mean by 'medicalisation' and how has it changed private life? Students who complete this subject should develop the ability to analyse the role of medicine and its practitioners in the shaping of private experience, public welfare, suffering and mortality.

• develop skills in written and oral communication;

• be able to conduct independent research;

• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;

• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.

A 1000 word tutorial diary 30% (due at the end of semester), a 3000 word research essay 60% (due at the end of semester) and class participation 10%. A hurdle requirement of 80% attendance of tutorials required.

A subject reader will be available.

• R Porter, Blood and Guts: a short history of medicine. New York, London 2002.