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At the start of the twentieth century, some Portuguese physicians traveled to Africa to study sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis). One was Ayres Kopke, a member of the first medical mission to Portuguese West Africa and professor at the School of Tropical Medicine. After returning to Lisbon, Kopke continued his research, which included observation of patients brought to the metropolis. Starting in 1903, health departments in the colonies were responsible for sending patients with certain exotic diseases to the Colonial Hospital of Lisbon. Based on documents from this hospital including photographs of patients (who at that time were called "hypnotics"), this article discusses the importance of human experiments in Lisbon for advances in tropical medicine during the colonial period.

The paper presents aspects of the history and archives of Grace Memorial Hospital, founded in 1926 in the former town of Ponte Nova, now Wagner, in the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia state, Brazil, by the American Presbyterian missionary and doctor Walter Welcome Wood. The documents in question have been kept at the Universidade do Estado da Bahia, campus II, Alagoinhas, since the hospital closed down definitively. They constitute a source of research for different areas of scholarship, especially the history of healthcare in Brazil. The documents are used in analyses of the incidence of diseases, medical treatments, and other care given to a population that had no access to other institutions working in this area.

With the introduction of Western medicine into China by Anglo-American medical missionaries in the early 19th century, Reverend Dr Peter Parker at the Canton Ophthalmic Hospital pioneered surgical operations in Chinese patients. The subsequent development of surgery for bladder stones at this institute by Parker's successor Dr John Kerr and colleagues is described.

In February 1906, Union Medical College (UMC, Peking) held the opening ceremony. The establishment and operation of the College was mostly attributed to Thomas Cochrane (1866-1953) from London Missionary Society. As a medical missionary in China, Cochrane lived through the dramatic political and social changes in the modern history of China and the world.As an English medical missionary, he witnessed and experienced the extreme poverty and severe shortage of medicine of the Chinese people when he was in Chaoyang, Liaoning Province, most inhabited by the Mongolian ethnic group. Then, he survived the Boxer Movement which with great resentment toward Christianity massacred the Chinese and foreign missionaries. After that, he approached to and then won over the trust and appreciation of the highest ruler of the Qing Dynasty. After the establishment of Republic of China, he handed over in person the college established by himself to the philanthropic organization of American capitalist. Cochrane's less than 30 years of life in China mirrored the great political, social, healthy, educational, intellectual, and ideological changes in China that shaped the medicine and health at the turn of the 20(th) century.

One of the main focuses of analysis of this paper concerns the missions of international health agency experts to Spain to report on the situation, the activities in the fight against physical disabilities in children and on the actions taken to cope with the problem. The Spain-23 Plan was the instrument used by WHO and other agencies to start the process of change in a country undergoing a period of transformation under the enduring Franco dictatorship. As key sources, the paper uses unpublished reports of WHO experts on the subject, which resulted from visits to the country between 1950 and 1975. The methodological approach consists of an analysis of discourses from primary sources within the historiographical framework.

Notwithstanding the traditional belief that disciples of Jesus Christ introduced Christianity into China, conclusive evidence showed that it was the Nestorian missionaries who entered China in AD 635. Alongside commercial contacts between the West and China during the prosperous T'ang dynasty (618-906), trepanation, bloodletting and the universal antidote theriac were introduced from the Byzantium Empire. Nestorian Christians built churches throughout China and offered some form of medical services. During the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1260-1368), foreign physicians were present in the Royal Court; the most famous was the astronomer, linguist and physician Ai-hsieh (Isaiah), Head of the Imperial Medical Bureau. With the fall of this dynasty, Christianity, being primarily the faith of a foreign community, naturally fell into oblivion. It was not until the sixteenth-century's Age of Discovery when a safe sea route to China was found that a new phase of Christian missionaries began., (© The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.)

It was not Dutch settlers nor British colonizers who introduced public and community health practice in north-eastern South Africa but medical doctors of the Swiss mission in southern Africa. While the history of medical knowledge transfer into 19th-20th century Africa emphasises colonial powers, this paper shows how countries without colonies contributed to expand western medical cultures, including public health. The Swiss took advantage of the local authorities' negligence, and implemented their own model of medicalization of African societies, understood as the way of improving health standards. They moved from a tolerated hospital-centred medicine to the practice of community health, which was uncommon at the time. Elim hospital's physicians moved back boundaries of segregationist policies, and sometime gave the impression of being involved in the political struggle against Apartheid. Thus, Swiss public health activities could later be seen as sorts of seeds that were planted and would partly reappear in 1994 with the ANC-projected national health policy.

The definition of a university hospital presupposes the integration of teaching, research and healthcare. Considering these activities constituent parts of university hospitals' missions, an analysis was made from the administrators' viewpoint of their place in these institutions at their founding and in the present day. Semi-structured interviews were held with the administrators of 13 of the 31 general hospitals run at Brazil's federal universities. Parallel to this, official information was gathered and analyzed from the 31 university hospitals' websites. Using a content analysis technique, it was found that although most of the university hospitals state that research is one of their missions, alongside teaching and healthcare, in practice teaching and healthcare take precedence.

Social-historical study conducted to examine the contribution of the American Nurses of Project HOPE to the configuration of the professional identity of the first trained nurses in Alagoas, in the period of 1973-1977. The theoretical framework was the "Civilizing Process" of Norbert Elias. Primary sources were official documents and personal files of 13 respondents by oral history; the secondary sources were authors of the History of Brazil/Alagoas. Data analysis showed that the configuration of the professional identity of the first trained nurses in Alagoas was a civilizing process, with all the nuances that make up the power relations. There was a significant contribution of American Nursing. However the movement of resistance to this domination was very strong, resulting in a Course that could take advantage of technological advancement and prestige brought by the United States, to build a unique Nursing from the social fabric embroidery at this meeting with so many different cultures.

This article reviews the historical and scientific findings of the Botanic Mission to Mozambique (1942-1948) under the Tropical Botanic Garden of the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, in Lisbon, highlighting the collectors' field notes with the aim of identifying the traditional medicinal uses of Mozambican flora. Having collated information on 71 taxa (70 species and one genus), the medicinal usage of 34 species presumably not yet reported in Mozambique was identified, including five whose therapeutic use still had not yet been described in the African continent. Overall, 58 uses presumably not yet reported in Mozambique were recorded.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery has had a long history with international humanitarian efforts. As the field of global surgery continues to gain momentum in academic centers throughout the world, the role of the surgical subspecialist in the public health infrastructure of low-resource communities has also begun to gain a new sense of wonder and importance. Arthur Barsky, Jr was arguably one of the most influential forefathers of global plastic surgery. Throughout his notable career spanning most of the 20th century, Barsky remained dedicated to delivering plastic and reconstructive surgical care to the disadvantaged worldwide, as well as educating others to do the same. Although he was not the first surgeon with an interest in global health, Barsky's work was unique and influential in its originality, magnitude, and scope. An appreciation and understanding of Barsky's groundbreaking work will help inform the future development of sustainable surgical systems in resource-poor settings.

Background: Mrs Francis Piggott proposed the Colonial Nursing Association in 1895 as a means of supplying Britain's colonies and dominions with trained professional nurses, who would support the health of white colonists abroad. Over 8400 nurses were placed between 1896 and the Association's end in 1966. Despite the burgeoning of scholarship on gender and empire over the last few decades, there is still more research to be done examining nurses as professional, working women, who present a fascinating variation on the figure of the woman traveler., Methods: This essay focuses on 1896-1927, exploring how nurses were prepared for their labor abroad and how these skills were challenged and adapted within a foreign environment. We contextualize this discussion with examples from literary tales of exploration and adventure and discourses of empire., Results/conclusions: Though the sources of disease against which nurses fought changed during this period, we assert that the underlying role of the nurse continued the same: she was meant to use the tools of personal as well as public 'hygiene' to create both physical and cultural boundaries around her white patients and herself, setting colonists apart from their colonial setting.

The origin of anesthesiology in Japan can be traced back to 1804, when Seishu Hanaoka administered anesthesia. However, the present day anesthesiology in Japan was shaped by two programs in the 1950s supported by the United States (US) Government. The first US program to influence anesthesiology in Japan was the Unitarian Service Committee (USC) Medical Mission. The USC sent three anesthesiologists; Dr. Meyer Saklad in 1950, Dr. Perry Perry Volpitto in 1951 and Dr. Joseph Artusio in 1956. The impact of the program on Japanese anesthesiology has been long-lasting. The second program was called Government Account for Relief in Occupied Area (GARIOA). Under this program, two Japanese physicians finished anesthesiology training in the US. Examining the history of our profession helps us understand the dedication and commitment of our pioneers, and prepares us to take on existing challenges to further the vision and goals set by our pioneers. The past provides us with a framework and understanding for how we pursue future opportunities and aspirations.

Mercy Ships is an international charity that was founded in 1978 as the maritime division of Youth WithA Mission and currently operates as the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world. The merchant vessel(M/V) Africa Mercy provides free health care, community development projects, community health education,agriculture projects, and palliative care for terminally ill patients. M/V Anastasis (1978-2007, retired) wasa flagship of the four-strong Mercy Ships Fleet which was manned by volunteers and equipped through donationsto bring physical and spiritual healing to the poor and needy in port cities around the world. The purpose of thisarticle is to make known the growing need for help in developing countries and to share my personal experiencewhile working for the Mercy Ships organisation on board the M/V Anastasis.In developing nations, 1,2 billion people live in absolute poverty and have no access to basic health care, cleanwater and sanitation. The "big killers" in our world today (such as infectious and parasitic diseases, lack of basicsanitation, diarrheal diseases, upper respiratory infections, lack of vaccination, malaria, tuberculosis, hungerand hunger-related diseases, death in childbirth) are preventable. Behind every statistics there is a story, a lifeand a person waiting for hope and healing. What little we do to prevent these can have a major impact.

Already before the First World War the North American medicine had developed within less years so far that it had an excellent reputation and that famous scientists and medicines from Europe came in the country for extensive study trips and congressional visits. Exactly 100 years ago the delegation biggest till then of German doctors visited in the course of the 14th German Medical Study Trip the United States of America. The very amicable relation between the doctors of both nations made easier the scientific exchange during this study trip and allowed a deep insight into the medicine of the USA to the participants. Even though the German doctors were very impressed with the developement in the USA and reported partly in their native country in detail about that, it didn't succeed in keeping pace with the rapid developement of the USA into the leading research nation in the following decades., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Dr Robert R. Shaw arrived in Dallas to practice Thoracic Surgery in 1937, as John Alexander's 7th Thoracic Surgical Resident from Michigan University Medical Center. Dr Shaw's modus operandi was, "You can accomplish almost anything, if you don't care who gets the credit." He was a remarkable individual who cared the most about the patient and very little about getting credit for himself. From 1937 to 1970, Dr Shaw established one of the largest lung cancer surgical centers in the world in Dallas, Texas. It was larger than M.D. Anderson and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospitals put together regarding the surgical treatment of lung cancer patients. To accomplish this, he had the help of Dr Donald L. Paulson, who trained at the Mayo Clinic and served as Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Brook Army Hospital during the Second World War. Following the War, because of his love for Texas, he ended up as a partner of Dr Shaw in Dallas. Together, they pursued the development of this very large surgical lung cancer center. Dr Shaw and his wife Ruth went to Afghanistan with Medico multiple times to teach men modern cardiac and thoracic surgery. They also served as consultants on Medico's Ship of Hope in Africa. Dr Shaw initiated multiple new operations including: 1) resection of Pancoast's cancer of the lung after preoperative irradiation; 2) upper lobe of the lung bronchoplasty, reattaching (and saving) the lower lobe to prevent the "disabling" pneumonectomy; and 3) resections of pulmonary mucoid impaction of the lung in asthmatics. Because of his humility and giving "the credit to others," Dr Shaw was never President of a major medical or surgical association., (Copyright © 2012 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Thirty years ago, the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital (ORBIS FEH) first landed in Guangzhou on September 21st 1982, remaining in the city for 18 days. Not only was this the ORBIS FEH's first trip to China to provide training in sight-restoring techniques, but the visit also turned a whole new chapter in the history of friendship between the Chinese and American ophthalmic communities. In the ensuing 30 years, the ORBIS FEH has visited China 22 times, landing in 25 different locations. The first DC-8 aircraft, retired formally in 1994, was subsequently presented by ORBIS to China as a token of the friendship between the Chinese and American people. This plane with its praiseworthy history is currently on display at the Chinese Aviation Museum in Beijing. The ORBIS FEH, originally dedicated by the highly respected American ophthalmologist David Paton, has as its defining goal the teaching and spreading of advanced ophthalmic surgical technology throughout the world, particularly in those areas where resources are scarce. Training of local ophthalmic staff as well as treating patients is its priorities, and thus it has received a warm welcome wherever it goes. The ORBIS FEH generates a ripple effect which has led to further improvements in eye care ever.

Mark Harrison has said that hospitals occupy a central place within health-care systems, not only on account of their curative functions but also as centres of teaching and research. The indigenous system of medicine practised by Hakims in Kashmir is the Unani. The Mission Hospital in Srinagar, Kashmir became the most important hospital attracting patients, not only within Kashmir but also in the surrounding countries and not only because of the curative facilities provided at the hospital but also because of the humane approach of its physicians, outstanding among them being Arthur Neve. The patients represented every class of society. Patients come from villages scattered throughout Kashmir and the Plains of India, and a few from Tibet, Afghanistan, Yarkand and Khostan. According to Neve, in 1912 there were 23,642 new outpatients and 1979 inpatients. Physical, socio-cultural and political conditions hinder access to the Mission Hospital. Neve's younger brother Ernest F Neve (1861-1946) made significant contributions when an earthquake struck and during cholera outbreaks in Kashmir at the end of the 19th century.

This historical narrative highlights the origin and development of the dental hygiene profession in South Korea. The legacy of early American missionaries to Korea includes profound and long-lasting contributions in medicine, education and theology. Many of Korea's top universities today have their roots in the missionary schools of the late nineteenth century, including Yonsei University, home of the first dental hygiene program in Korea. From Yonsei in Seoul, the dental hygiene profession spread throughout the country, includingtheAmerican missionary-based program in Kwangju in 1977. Contributions included clinical and didactic education, as well as professional leadership and development. American dental missionaries developed the profession of dental hygiene in Korea, and provided guidance to Korean dentists and hygienists for its growth and expansion.

Beginning in 1946, the Unitarian Service Committee's Medical Mission sent 10 distinguished anesthesiologists to 13 different countries to teach anesthesiology. The details and impact of that mission are the subject of this article., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Medical diplomacy, the collaboration between countries to simultaneously produce health benefits and improve relations, has been a cornerstone of Cuban foreign policy since the outset of the revolution fifty years ago. It has helped Cuba garner symbolic capital (goodwill, influence, and prestige) well beyond what would have been possible for a small, developing country, and it has contributed to making Cuba a player on the world stage. In recent years, medical diplomacy has been instrumental in providing considerable material capital (aid, credit, and trade), as the oil-for-doctors deals with Venezuela demonstrates. This has helped keep the revolution afloat in trying economic times. What began as the implementation of the one of the core values of the revolution, namely health as a basic human right for all peoples, has continued as both an idealistic and a pragmatic pursuit. This article examines the factors that enabled Cuba to conduct medical diplomacy over the past fifty years, the rationale behind the conduct of this type of soft power politics, the results of that effort, and the mix of idealism and pragmatism that has characterized the experience. Moreover, it presents a typology of medical diplomacy that Cuba has used over the past fifty years.

After the independence of México, in 1821, the country has kept its regard and spirit towards France. First for the programs of teaching and instruction in medicine, following the French system. Some years later Napoleon the IIId created what was called "L'Expédition Scientifique du Mexique ( The Scientific expedition in Mexico)" a copy of that which, 60 years before, Napoleon 1st had done for Egypt. From this commission, over the years will be born the actual Academia Nacional de Medicina de México.

Summary: The aim of the Modicum mission from the United States was to determine the fate of the Western World, the Second Front and the Manhattan Project plans for development of atomic weapons. The Modicum mission was appointed in March 1942 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt as President and Commander-in-Chief of the US forces. The journey via the Anglican Cathedral in Bermuda, to Gander, to London, to Ulster was eventful. There was a clay-pigeon shooting contest in Gander. Generals Marshall, Eisenhower, Clark and Averell Harriman were outshot by their pilot. In Ulster, an escorting US sergeant killed a Londonderry bus driver with three shots. At a house party requested by King George VI and General Marshall, at Ashbrook, Ardmore, near Londonderry, it is alleged Averell Harriman was poisoned with Salmonella schottmülleri. He was delirious and 'gravely ill' for three weeks at 3 Grosvenor Square next to the American Embassy. He subsequently married his "other nurse", Pamela. Ambassador Pamela Churchill Harriman, a long-time ardent supporter of the Clintons, died in February 1997 following a stroke.