General fitness, health and nutrition · Public discussion

Go and learn

Garrison Hillia · 2003-12-29T02:40:19+00:00

[from [email hidden]] Date: Monday, December 22 2003 01:12 pm From: Chris Warren Subject: Lecture: James C. Whorton on Alternative Medicine, 1/21/04 at NYAM The New York Academy of Medicine Section on Historical Medicine announces the fourth talk in its 2003- 2004 lecture series: James C. Whorton, Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine "From Cultism to CAM: Alternative Medicine in the Twentieth Century" Wednesday, January 21, 2003, 6:00 PM, with a reception beginning at 5:30 PM The recent growth of interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a dramatic reversal of the medical profession's attitude toward unorthodox approaches to therapy. Through virtually the entire twentieth century, in fact, alternative medicine was scorned as "medical cultism." This talk will examine the basis for medicine's dismissal of alternative practitioners as cultists, and trace the transformation of alternative medicine's image and status from the 1890s to the present. James C. Whorton is the author of "Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America," published in 2002 by Oxford University Press. He is a Professor of History in the Department of Medical History and Ethics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Professor Whorton has written many journal articles and four books, including "Before Silent Spring: Pesticides and Public Health in Pre-DDT America" (1975), and "Inner Hygiene: Constipation and the Pursuit of Health in Modern Society" (2000). This event is free and open to the public. For more information about NYAM programs in the history of medicine, write [email hidden] or call Christian Warren at 212.822.7314. --- Founded in 1847, the New York Academy of Medicine is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the health of the public through research, education and advocacy, with a particular focus on disadvantaged urban populations. Please visit our website: www.nyam.org. -- H-SCI-MED-TECH The H-Net list for the History of Science, Medicine and Technology Email address for postings: [email hidden] Homepage: http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~smt/ To unsubscribe or change your subscription options, please use the Web Interface: http://www.h-net.msu.edu/lists/manage.

Started by Garrison Hillia · 29 December 2003 · Last activity 29 December 2003 · 11 posts · 416 views

← Back to General fitness, health and nutrition

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

01 / Original postGo and learnGarrison Hillia · 29 Dec 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11Lawsone · 29 Dec 2003

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section: General fitness, health and nutrition
Published: 29 December 2003
Last activity: 29 December 2003
Original author: Garrison Hillia
Posts: 11
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 416
Views / 30 days: 0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Garrison Hillia
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #1

[from [email hidden]]
Date: Monday, December 22 2003 01:12 pm From: Chris Warren <[email hidden]> Subject: Lecture:
James C. Whorton on Alternative Medicine, 1/21/04 at NYAM
The New York Academy of Medicine Section on Historical Medicine announces the fourth talk in its 2003-
2004 lecture series:
James C. Whorton, Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine "From Cultism to CAM:
Alternative Medicine in the Twentieth Century" Wednesday, January 21, 2003, 6:00 PM, with a
reception beginning at 5:30 PM
The recent growth of interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) represents a dramatic
reversal of the medical profession's attitude toward unorthodox approaches to therapy. Through
virtually the entire twentieth century, in fact, alternative medicine was scorned as "medical
cultism." This talk will examine the basis for medicine's dismissal of alternative practitioners as
cultists, and trace the transformation of alternative medicine's image and status from the 1890s to
the present.
James C. Whorton is the author of "Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America,"
published in 2002 by Oxford University Press. He is a Professor of History in the Department of
Medical History and Ethics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Professor Whorton has
written many journal articles and four books, including "Before Silent Spring: Pesticides and Public
Health in Pre-DDT America" (1975), and "Inner Hygiene: Constipation and the Pursuit of Health in
Modern Society" (2000).
This event is free and open to the public. For more information about NYAM programs in the history
of medicine, write [email hidden] or call Christian Warren at 212.822.7314.
---
Founded in 1847, the New York Academy of Medicine is a non-profit organization dedicated to
enhancing the health of the public through research, education and advocacy, with a particular focus
on disadvantaged urban populations. Please visit our website: www.nyam.org.
--
H-SCI-MED-TECH
The H-Net list for the History of Science, Medicine and Technology
Email address for postings: [email hidden]
Homepage: h-net.msu.edu~smt
To unsubscribe or change your subscription options, please use the
Web Interface: h-net.msu.edumanage.

Report
Blair P . Hough
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #2

Garrison Hilliard said:
James C. Whorton, Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine "From Cultism to CAM:
Alternative Medicine in the Twentieth Century" Wednesday, January 21, 2003, 6:00 PM, with a
reception beginning at 5:30 PM
How about I stay home and just remember what kooks look like?
--Blair "In between episodes of Alias."

Report
Steve
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #3

I read a nice quote re "alternative medicine" the other day.
Im paraphrasing ....."there is no alternative medicine - there is medicine which is proven to work
and those that have not been proven to work"
Im sure no one would refuse to accept something if found to be effective - through testing.
--
Steve
The Earth is degenerating these days. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer mind their
parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast
approaching.
- Assyrian Stone Tablet, c.2800BC

Report
Kyrodoc
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #4

Quoted message said:
From: [email hidden]
Quoted message said:
is the author of "Nature Cures:
Whaaaaaaaaaa???????? IT DOESNT IT DOESNT>>>>DOCTORS CURE . I HAVE THE POWER........ I TAKE
THE CREDIT

Report
Petem
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #5

Steve <[email hidden]> posted
Quoted message said:
I read a nice quote re "alternative medicine" the other day.
Im paraphrasing ....."there is no alternative medicine - there is medicine which is proven to work
and those that have not been proven to work"
Im sure no one would refuse to accept something if found to be effective - through testing.
Why are you sure? Do you think everyone's choices are influenced soley by tests of effectiveness?
--
PeteM

Report
Lawsone
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #6

"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I read a nice quote re "alternative medicine" the other day.
Im paraphrasing ....."there is no alternative medicine - there is medicine which is proven to work
and those that have not been proven to work"
Im sure no one would refuse to accept something if found to be effective - through testing.
Really?
Are you saying that there are no monetary issues involved in what is or isn't accepted as
"proven medicine?
What about things that are NOT proven to be effective, but are still used?

Report
Blair P . Hough
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #7

LawsonE said:
"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Im paraphrasing ....."there is no alternative medicine - there is medicine which is proven to
work and those that have not been proven to work"
Are you saying that there are no monetary issues involved in what is or isn't accepted as "proven
medicine?
That's not the issue at hand.
The only issue that matters is whether it works, or does not work, or a violation of the first tenet
of the Hippocratic oath.
Quoted message said:
What about things that are NOT proven to be effective, but are still used?
They are deleterious, because they are used in lieu of medicine that does work, and therefore
exacerbate the malady.
--Blair "Not good."

Report
Lawsone
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #8

"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
LawsonE said:
"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Im paraphrasing ....."there is no alternative medicine - there is

medicine
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
which is proven to work and those that have not been proven to work"
Are you saying that there are no monetary issues involved in what is or isn't accepted as "proven
medicine?
That's not the issue at hand.
The only issue that matters is whether it works, or does not work, or a violation of the first
tenet of the Hippocratic oath.
Quoted message said:
What about things that are NOT proven to be effective, but are still

used?
Quoted message said:

They are deleterious, because they are used in lieu of medicine that does work, and therefore
exacerbate the malady.
A nice ideal, but you ARE aware that monetary considerations often help define "what works" in
modern medicine (and ancient and alternative, of course), aren't you?

Report
Blair P . Hough
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #9

LawsonE said:
"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
They are deleterious, because they are used in lieu of medicine that does work, and therefore
exacerbate the malady.
A nice ideal, but you ARE aware that monetary considerations often help define "what works" in
modern medicine (and ancient and alternative, of course), aren't you?
If medicine were not an inelastic demand-priced system, that wouldn't be the case.
--Blair "Guess where I'm going with this."

Report
Blair P . Hough
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #10

LawsonE said:

"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
LawsonE said:
"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
> They are deleterious, because they are used in lieu of medicine that does work, and therefore
> exacerbate the malady.
A nice ideal, but you ARE aware that monetary considerations often help define "what works" in
modern medicine (and ancient and alternative, of course), aren't you?
If medicine were not an inelastic demand-priced system, that wouldn't be the case.
Could you define "inelastic demand-priced system," using other words, please?
Extortion.
You pay, or you die, or live in terrible pain and fear, at least, while this "doctor" dangles the
cure inches from your nose, and his fingers are inches from your wallet.
Quoted message said:
What *I* was thinking of were examples where simple, low-cost/no-cost solutions to medical problems
aren't pushed by medical practitioners and society-as-a-whole as much as more complicated, high-cost/high-
maintainance solutions to the same problems.
If it wasn't about getting the most money for the least work that wouldn't happen. They'd give you
the Xanax--and generic alprazolam at that--instead of the Paxil and you'd be fine.
Quoted message said:
29% of adults are STILL addicted.
I have three stills a day. It's ruining my back.
--Blair
"Next."

Report
Lawsone
Archived post

29 December 2003, 02:40 UTC #11

"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
LawsonE said:
"Blair P. Houghton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
They are deleterious, because they are used in lieu of medicine that does work, and therefore
exacerbate the malady.
A nice ideal, but you ARE aware that monetary considerations often help define "what works" in
modern medicine (and ancient and alternative, of course), aren't you?
If medicine were not an inelastic demand-priced system, that wouldn't be the case.
Could you define "inelastic demand-priced system," using other words, please?
What *I* was thinking of were examples where simple, low-cost/no-cost solutions to medical problems
aren't pushed by medical practitioners and society-as-a-whole as much as more complicated, high-cost/high-
maintainance solutions to the same problems.
An example would be the diet/exercise for preventing heart attacks. Everyone makes noise about
getting more exercise, but most medical and social effort goes into promoting anything *other* than
exercise and diet as a solution for the problem.
And let's not forget how long it took for our society to even begin to attempt the issue of nicotine
addiction...
29% of adults are STILL addicted.

Report

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.

Jump through the discussion

What we know about this thread

Continue through CyclingForums

Active in this thread