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The Dutch Journal of Medicine holds a unique and comprehensive collection of commemorative medals. In the autumn of 2018, the journal arranged an online exhibition to display an extensive part of the collection and incorporated these objects into a wider historical context. This article presents a description of part ofthe web exhibition. In the light of Willem Einthoven's (1860-1927) work, we argue that around 1900 the first signs of technological medicine were becoming apparent. By focusing on a small number of medals, in this article we describe how the increasing importance of applied technology in medicine is reflected in the self-representation of the medical specialties that were beginning to emerge during the same period.

The German Society of Urology (DGU) e. V. meeting has been an integral part of knowledge sharing among national and international experts since 1907. Hamburg was the host city for this meeting nine times (until 2015), including the 47th Annual Meeting of the DGU in 1995 under the presidency of Prof. Dr. U. Jonas (Hannover). As part of the 47th conference, a new insignia in the form of the Presidential Medal was given to the designated successor for the first time. The medal, which is in the form of a chain, was made in a small workshop in Idar-Oberstein, Germany.

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) as an analytical technique in studies of ancient coins is summarized and reviewed. Specific EDXRF applications in historical studies, in studies of the corrosion of coins, and in studies of the optimal working conditions of some laser-based treatment for the cleaning of coins are described., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Introduction: Greek and Roman worship of their gods and myths go back to Ancient Egyptian times. Images engraved in Greco-Roman coinage range from references to the assassination of Caesar and legendary stories like the arrival of a snake shaped demi-god Aesculapius to save the Romans from the plague, to invocations of major deities including Apollo the physician or Ammon the protector., Development: Depicted with the horns of a ram, Ammon was adopted by the Greeks as an epithet of Zeus and later incorporated by the Romans as Jupiter. References to the cult of Ammon appear on tetradrachms minted for Alexander The Great and on provincial Roman coins struck under Claudius. It is thrilling to hold a coin depicting Marcus Aurelius with Salus on the reverse and think that it could have been handed to Galen in payment for his services. However, it is rare to find figures other than rulers on coins and the physician of Pergamum is no exception. Inspired by the Renaissance school of Padua, French anatomists in the Enlightenment (Garengeot in 1742 and Flurant in 1752) continued reviving ancient myths and named the curve-shaped-inner portion of the temporal lobe Ammon's horn. Outstanding scholars who studied this primitive structure of the brain included Lorente de Nó and his mentor Cajal, whose portrait appeared on fifty-pesetas notes issued in 1935., Conclusions: As primary sources of great archaeological and artistic value, Greco-Roman coins provide information about the origins of the myths and gods of classical antiquity and continue to inspire the arts and sciences to this day., (Copyright © 2011 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

The construction of the presidential medal of the Manchester Dental Alumni Society is described.

It is with some pride that the author worked in Geoffrey Slack's department from 1963 to 1967 and even retained a working relationship with him after that time. Slack was Professor of Dental Surgery (1959-1976) and later Professor of Community Dental Health (1976-1977) at The London Hospital Medical College, within the University of London. The change in titles came about as a result of recognition of his contribution to developments in public health and community dental care and services, for many of which he was directly responsible. He was Dental Dean from 1965 until 1969. Upon retirement in 1977 he became Emeritus Professor. In addition, he was Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England from 1974 to 1977.

The goldsmith Eligius lived probably from 589 to 660 A. D. and was mint master of the Merovingian royal court in Paris. Some rare gold coins from his workshop have survived. Later Eligius became a priest and died as the Bishop of Noyon. His life was marked by charity, the reason he was canonized and became patron of many artisanal and artistic professions, including the veterinarians and farriers. As a patron of the mint masters his image appears on little medals to control the weight of coins. On modern coins his name can only be found once on a shilling dated 1623 from the Maccagno mint near the Lake Maggiore; however his picture is on numerous medals and pilgrims' plaques as well as on the merit medal from the veterinarians of Quebec.

The investigation on the differences occurring in the manufacture of silver coins allows to get information on their elemental composition and represents a powerful support to the methodology to identify the producing technologies, workshops being also instrumental to distinguish between original and counterfeit ones. Aim of the present work is to study recent and old silver coins through non-destructive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The XRF was applied to extend the analysis to the deepest layers of the coins; for surface layers an X-ray tube or an electron beam were employed to induce the atom fluorescence to obtain information on the surface elemental composition. Moreover, a detailed study has been performed to evaluate the influence of the surface curvature on the measurement, by deducing a proper corrective factor to keep into account in the data analysis. The elemental atomic composition was measured for each coin, mainly by means of the X-ray tube excitation for the bulk and the electron Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) microbeam probe for the surface patina analysis. Ionization was induced by an X-ray tube using an Ag anode for the bulk and by an electron microprobe for the surface composition. X-ray detection was performed by using a semiconductor Si device cooled by a Peltier system. The Ag L-lines X-ray yield is affected by coin surface morphology and geometry. The comparison between coin spectra and standard samples, shows that the Ag quantitative analysis is influenced by error of the atomic concentration lower that 10%.

When Congress created the National Medal of Science in 1959 to be awarded by the president of the United States, psychology was not among the eligible sciences. A concerted lobbying effort in the late 1970s changed that situation, adding social and behavioral sciences to the listing of eligible disciplines. This article describes how the award program was created with more restricted eligibility and the behind-the-scenes actions that led to eligibility being broadened, noting particularly the efforts of one very prominent psychologist who was angry about the exclusion of his science.

An eagle, the svastika, Asclepios and his staff, the serpent, a lion and the caduceus appear on a medal. The history and signification of those medical symbols are explained.

The period between the 2 World Wars was a time of budding interest in renal studies and one that closed in major geopolitical unrest, culminating in World War II. The life of Erich Frank (1884-1957) and his contributions to chronic kidney disease provide considerable insight into this period. Frank began his career in Breslau, Germany. His medical thesis and first publication were on the benign nature of orthostatic proteinuria. He went on to define and differentiate essential from renal hypertension, presented evidence for the role of the posterior pituitary in diabetes insipidus, and studied the first oral hypoglycemic agent. As all clinical scientists then, Frank also contributed to other fields of medicine. When Germany turned to Nazism, Frank moved to Turkey, where he was appointed co-chair of the Department of Medicine of the newly established Istanbul University. For the next 23 years, he trained a new generation of modern physicians and laid the foundation of several medical disciplines in Turkey. As author of the first Turkish textbook of nephrology and a teacher who inspired his students, some of whom went on to become the first generation of Turkish nephrologists, Frank was a pioneer in nephrology who helped establish the discipline in his adopted country., (Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Ardito was a fighter as well as a competitor whose status as a 'warrior' was based on courage and superior physical performance: a superior man. In addition, his exuberant conduct, both on and off the battlefield, introduced a significant new sub-culture into post-war Italian society, contributing to the attachment of notable value to virility and Mussolini's cult of the 'strong man'. The purpose of this research is to analyse the impact of this 'arditismo' (spirit of daring) on the early post-war period in particular, including the different 'male image' of the Italian citizen, and to study the sense of virility in the transition from the liberal, easy-going 'Little Italy' of Giovanni Giolitti (1842-1928) to a manly, combative, and ambitious nation. Together with some of the vitalistic tendencies in the Futurist movement, the main characteristics and mentality of the ex-Ardito (former Special Forces) would thus be significantly influential in the ideology of nascent Fascism. Indeed, the 'arditismo' influence, together with the article and social movement known as Futurism would constitute the two most highly structured foundations of early Fascist culture, bringing a political and social revolution necessary to create a 'new man'. It was as if the Arditi and the new method of military training had transferred their experience from the military into civilian life, contributing to a renewal of the image of the Italian male in the collective imagination. Indirectly, the image of women would also begin to absorb and adapt to new sports models imported from abroad, which would create for the Italian Ardito, a grudgingly tolerated rival. The main sources for this paper are the archives of the Historical Office of the Army, advertising and manuals from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, placards and graphic publicity from books and journals or private collections, and exhibition catalogues.

The Roman emperor Claudius suffered from a wide range of physical tics and disabilities. Many scholars have explained these symptoms by hypothesizing that Claudius suffered from cerebral palsy. However, this hypothesis is dated and does not take into account all of the evidence available. This article re-examines ancient historical sources in the light of modern medical knowledge in an attempt to retrospectively diagnose the cause of Claudius's problems. In doing so, it suggests that Claudius may have suffered from Tourette's syndrome.

Today we register 380-390 pieces of grave coins from 66 localities (mostly rustic linear necropoles) of the 11th and 12th century in region of Moravia. The beginning of the systematic use of coin as a grave artifact falls to the 1st quarter of the 11th century, its maximal development to interval 1060-1085 and the conclusion to the 1st half of the 12th century. Predominantly we find only one coin in one grave. The most often we find the coin in palms of the dead (26%) or in such position, to which they could get out from the hands (15-20%). No relation between coin position and sex, age, position or orientation of the dead has been proved. The coins belong to prominent means for dating graves and grave inventory. The most frequently the coin in grave was used as a dead obole, it means it was given to grave intentionally and on the ritual ground. It is very probable, that the coin compensated the former material grave gifts because of its small size as a reaction on intensified church supervision, which controlled the observance of Christian principles in burial rite. In such way it indicates the persistence of heathen thinking of common people in 11th and 12th century in environment, that already was officially Christian.

Dentists' contributions to science and society extend beyond the practice of clinical dentistry and preventive oral health. Such service encompasses contributions to biology specifically and more generally to societal good works for which dentists are particularly esteemed. The profession of dentistry promotes the history and heritage of its craft and those who practise it. Enduring symbols of dentistry take many forms. These include metonymic emblems such as those of Cadmus and Saint Apollonia and the portrayal of effigies of twentieth century dentists on eponymous medals. Other enduring symbols are to be found in the names of streets and towns (eg Normanville in Australia) which commemorate dentists; and in the worldwide scientific names of plants and animal species which perpetuate singular contributions of dentists to biological science. Such include the scientific names of grasses (Deyeuxia rodwayi) after the Tasmanian dentist, Dr Leonard Rodway (1853-1936); seaweeds (Jeannerettia sp.) after a seaweed of the Pacific and Southern Oceans, after Dr Henry Jeannerett (1802-1886); gastropods (Typhina yatesi) after Dr Lorenzo Yates (1837-1909); copepods (eg Mimocalanus heronae) named to commemorate the life and works of Gayle Ann Heron (b.1923), a dental hygienist of the University of Washington, USA; and crabs (eg Cancer bellianus) named to commemorate the life and works of the leading British dentist of his day, Thomas Bell (1792-1880). This paper explores this theme of the creation and promotion of enduring symbols of dental science - enshrined in the civic, numismatic and taxonomic record.

Enclosed in a 1673 letter to Henry Oldenburg were two drawings of a series of astrological sigils, coins and amulets from the collection of Strasbourg mathematician Julius Reichelt (1637-1719). As portrayals of particular medieval and early modern sigils are relatively rare, this paper will analyse the role of these medals in medieval and early modern medicine, the logic behind their perceived efficacy, and their significance in early modern astrological and cabalistic practice. I shall also demonstrate their change in status in the late seventeenth century from potent magical healing amulets tied to the mysteries of the heavens to objects kept in a cabinet for curiosos. The evolving perception of the purpose of sigils mirrored changing early modem beliefs in the occult influences of the heavens upon the body and the natural world, as well as the growing interests among virtuosi in collecting, numismatics and antiquities.

Parthian coins depict a nodule on the face of many of their kings over succeeding generations. Loosely described as a wart in the literature, the nature of these lesions has been the subject of speculation. The accepted view is that they were unlikely to be simply a cosmetic or symbolic feature. Evidence suggests that they may represent the cutaneous tumors of Neurofibromatosis. The hereditary nature and physical appearance of these round nodules are consistent with this diagnosis. Although final proof may be lacking, these prominent facial features are worthy of discussion even though the matter may not be settled with certainty.

The authors try to explain the human and patriotic reasons of the sale of vignettes and little medals in 1917. It was the year when tuberculosis raged in trenches. On Léon Bourgeois's instigation the country was urged for the difficult struggle and people were thanked for their gift by vignettes and medals some of which were signed by the famous artist René Lalique (1860-1945). The authors show a rare and complete collection human and patriotic reasons.

The epitaph of his gravestone on the Saint Helen cemetery of Strasbourg indicates the precise dates of beginning (21 August 1816) and tragic end (19 August 1856) of the eventfull but short live of the renowned chemist Charles Gerhardt. Accompagned by a Foundation, unfortunately disappeared during the last war, a bronze effigy was dedicated in 1921 to his memory in the Chemistry Institute. As regards the house where he was born, it bears a commemorative plate fastebed 1965 and restored 2006.

L. Aelius Caesar is a little known co-regent of Hadrian who, having already been taken ill, was elected Princeps as Hadrian's successor and died soon afterwards. The city of Mytilene in Lesbos dedicated a bronze coin for him while he was still alive. The reverse of the coin shows the arrival of Asclepios in the shape of a snake. It is certainly a reference to the mythic translation of the cult of Asclepios to Rome in the third century B. C. which introduced the worship of the healing god on the Tiber Island. The community of Mytilene that struck the coin wanted to wish the ruler, whose illness was generally known, a good recovery or even to encourage him to convalesce at the famous ancient spa of Mytilene. At the same time they wanted to make a request on their own behalf. They wanted to gain the favour of the putative successor to the ruling Princeps in order to keep or regain certain liberties for their city which have been reduced by Vespasian in his centralization of the Roman Empire.

Retrospective 'diagnosis' of clinical disorders of famous historical figures has been of medical interest. In the absence of a patient's 'body', the validity of 'physical symptoms' and their interpretation by contemporary diagnostic criteria are questionable. When the symptoms have been gleaned from the patients's effigy which, as in the case of Alexander the Great, is submerged in legend, the enterprise becomes inherently hazardous. In the present paper, some of the conceptual problems underlying retrospective diagnoses will be identified. Then the use of iconographic records, such as numismatics and sculpture, to provide evidence of clinical symptoms will be shown to be highly misleading.