The Rise of Causal Concepts of Disease

Case Histories

Nonfiction, History
Cover of the book The Rise of Causal Concepts of Disease by K. Codell Carter, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: K. Codell Carter ISBN: 9781351882644
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: March 2, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: K. Codell Carter
ISBN: 9781351882644
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: March 2, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Much of contemporary medical theory and practice focuses on the identification of specific causes of disease. However, this has not always been the case: until the early nineteenth century physicians thought of diseases in quite different terms. The modern quest for causes of disease can be seen as a single Lakatosian research programme. One can track the rise and elaboration of this programme by a series of case histories. The success of work on bacterial diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis tends to eclipse the broad context in which those studies were embedded. Yet, in the 1830s, fifty years before Koch's publications on tuberculosis, specific causes were already being identified for several non-bacterial diseases including scabies, muscardine and ringworm. Moreover, by the end of the century, the quest for specific causes had spread well beyond bacterial diseases. The expanding research programme included Freud's early work on psychopathology, the discovery of viruses, the discovery of vitamins, and the recognition of genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome. Existing historical discussions of research in these areas, for example, histories of work on the deficiencies diseases, take the view that success in bacteriology was a positive obstacle to the identification of causes for other kinds of diseases. Treating the quest for causes as a single coherent research programme provides a better understanding of the disease concepts that characterise the last 150 years of medical thought.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Much of contemporary medical theory and practice focuses on the identification of specific causes of disease. However, this has not always been the case: until the early nineteenth century physicians thought of diseases in quite different terms. The modern quest for causes of disease can be seen as a single Lakatosian research programme. One can track the rise and elaboration of this programme by a series of case histories. The success of work on bacterial diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis tends to eclipse the broad context in which those studies were embedded. Yet, in the 1830s, fifty years before Koch's publications on tuberculosis, specific causes were already being identified for several non-bacterial diseases including scabies, muscardine and ringworm. Moreover, by the end of the century, the quest for specific causes had spread well beyond bacterial diseases. The expanding research programme included Freud's early work on psychopathology, the discovery of viruses, the discovery of vitamins, and the recognition of genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome. Existing historical discussions of research in these areas, for example, histories of work on the deficiencies diseases, take the view that success in bacteriology was a positive obstacle to the identification of causes for other kinds of diseases. Treating the quest for causes as a single coherent research programme provides a better understanding of the disease concepts that characterise the last 150 years of medical thought.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The Analysis of Political Behaviour by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book In Defense of Anthropology by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Sport, Public Broadcasting, and Cultural Citizenship by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Regional Security in the Middle East by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Women Workers and Gender Identities, 1835-1913 by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Norbert Elias and the Analysis of History and Sport by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Genre Studies in Mass Media: A Handbook by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Family Violence and Police Response by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Economics and Interdisciplinary Exchange by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Basic Russian by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Sarah Fyge Egerton by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Sociolinguistics Today (RLE Linguistics C: Applied Linguistics) by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book Gerontological Social Work in Home Health Care by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book International Law in East Asia by K. Codell Carter
Cover of the book The Causes of Industrial Disorder by K. Codell Carter
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy