~An Amalgam of Medical and Maritime History~

A medical student, an aspiring maritime historian, a man who always seems to find his passions in the most unorthodox of ways. I am all these things. Perhaps a bit of an overstatement, particularly the last part, however, my quest to find that which drives me has always led me down circuitous paths. Medicine and maritime history might seem a strange amalgam to some, however, the two are linked in the most extraordinary ways. Both have rich and multifaceted histories that are prime for exploration, discovery, and learning. I seek to learn about both; separately and together.

As a student of medicine, I am at once enthralled and inundated by the wealth of knowledge to be gained from such a course of study. Despite my passion for the subject, I have found that though we are more than sufficiently prepared for our roles as healers, we often times are left with little in the way of an historical perspective. How did we come to use the techniques and medications now endorsed by physicians, and what did it take to get to this point? These are questions that I seek to answer.

Though I have always been a history enthusiast, it was not until recently that I discovered my love of ships and the sea. I quickly gained a penchant for all things maritime. an historical subject that encompasses a broad range of topics from naval battles to the science of navigation. Recently, I came to find that surgeons at sea played an integral part in the orchestra of persons aboard a sailing vessel. They were to maintain the health of the sailors at all costs, despite the rudimentary tools and the unforgiving elements of wind and sea. This effectively bridges the topics, and provides a jumping point for my future knowledge and research.

Any feedback is welcome as I share what I have gained with you.
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10 Fascinating (and strange) Maps

“From the USSR’s Be On Guard! map in 1921 to Google Earth, a new exhibition at the British Library charts the extraordinary documents that transformed the way we view the globe forever”

This collection of maps (click title) from the exhibition at the British Library has some very unique entries.  Right now my favorite is a toss up between the Chinese globe and the Waldseemuller world map (which depicts the North American continent as an oddly shaped sliver of land), although I can’t discount the pro-Bolshevik propaganda map.  

I do find Google Earth to be a bit out of place though.  Believe me, I’ve used it countless times and can testify to its usefulness, but it isn’t exactly in keeping with the historical theme here.  But maybe it’s just me…

If you have any other examples of interesting maps, let me know!

NOAA releases Civil War chart collection

Next year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and in recognition of that fact the NOAA has crafted and released a package of Civil War era maps, nautical charts, and documents called “Charting a More Perfect Union”.  These documents were actually prepared during the Civil War (1861-65) by the U.S. Coast Survey.

From the statement by the NOAA:

 

Coast Survey’s collection includes 394 Civil War-era maps, including nautical charts used for naval campaigns, and maps of troop movements and battlefields. Rarely seen publications include Notes on the Coast, prepared by Coast Survey to help Union forces plan naval blockades against the Confederacy, and the annual report summaries by Superintendent Bache as he detailed the trials and tribulations of producing the maps and charts needed to meet growing military demands.

In the nation’s early years, the United States lost more ships to accidents than to war. In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson established the Survey of the Coast to produce the nautical charts necessary for maritime safety, defense and the establishment of national boundaries. By 1861, Coast Survey was the government’s leading scientific agency, charting coastlines and determining land elevations for the nation. Today, the Office of Coast Survey still meets its maritime responsibilities as a part of NOAA, surveying America’s coasts and producing the nation’s nautical charts.

This collection provides researchers and those interested with the opportunity to view historic documents related to the Civil War naval and riverine operations all in one place.  How convenient!  I look forward to perusing it.  If anyone finds anything interesting please let me know.

“Charting a More Perfect Union” can be found at the Office of Coast Survey’s website.

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John Wesley Powell's Water-based States: How the Western U.S. Could Have Looked

A very interesting article that gives us a “what if” scenario where the layout of the states in the American West would have been based on irrigation systems and watershed areas.  The map is the product of John Wesley Powell’s, a mogul in the history of the exploration and management of the western states, proposed borders for states based upon said water sources.  The face of America would have looked very different indeed.

Click on the above title to take a look at the article from Big Think.