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Biomedical subjects

J T Freeman

Publications and source records attributed to J T Freeman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1978

Ivan Basilevich: a gerontologist in transit.

Chance often determines the names that are recorded in history. Among an earlier generation's gerontologists, Ivan Basilevich was distinguished by the promise of his career and recognition in the USSR by his peers. The military invasion of his nation changed the pattern of his life. From a professional level in his native land, at the age of 50, he became a resident in psychiatry in Rhode Island where he continued his work on aging. He became a citizen in 1954 and by 1962 was the senior psychiatrist of his hospital's staff. His contributions to gerontology included his participation in the Kiev Congress of Aging in 1938 and a monograph in English (unpublished) on the medical aspects of natural old age. He wrote some 70 articles. In his papers on the subject of aging he heralded the transition of gerontology to its modern stage.

Geriatrics↗
PubMed1978

Albert Mueller-Deham: distinguished geriatric clinician.

Modern geriatrics is the product of notable clinicians, past and present. However, recognition has been unequal. Pioneers whose publications were pre-eminent in their time have not received adequate identification. In consequence, the field is poorer for such neglect. Albert Mueller-Deham (1881-1971) of Vienna did excellent work in geriatrics. His clinical abilities were based on long staff attendance at a major hospital and by his insistence on attendance, with his staff, at autopsies. His key textbook was published in 1937 in German. His career in Austria was disrupted by political forces but, with energy and ability, he continued it with distinction in the United States. After retirement at age 70, he turned to social writings. A bio-bibliography of this noteworthy man is based on several letters, a personal narrative that he wrote in response to questions about his years in geriatrics, notes from one of his staff, and recollections by his co-author in 1942 of the revised American edition of the book. Students of aging can benefit by recourse to his classical text with its group of clinical principles.

Austria↗
PubMed1977

The restless legs of a Nantucket farmer.

Ekbom's syndrome of restless legs is common but not restricted primarily to the elderly. Records of familial occurrence and association with several pathologic disorders preclude exclusive age-association. Most cases of the syndrome in the general population are seen in persons of middle or old age. Lack of awareness of the frequency of the syndrome and lack of an adequate dependable form of treatment attest the need for additional study. Historical documentation is one way of alerting the profession to the nature, frequency and lineage of a clinical disorder that requires an accepted form of amelioration. Notes from the 1870-73 diary of a Nantucket farmer are presented.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed1975

The longevity of gerontologists.

The forces of mortality are the prime determinants of longevity. Longevity is a basic consideration of gerontology and includes the life expectancy of the species, the average expectancy of survival at birth, and the average of lifespan. In the history of the study of old age, for which the modern period began about 1930, there are no reports of the average lifespan for the students of aging. A survey revealed that the average lifespan of 28 special groups (15,000 individuals) was 68 years; this included an average of 68.01 years for 394 gerontologists during the same eras. These figures are comparable because the attainment of a particular status in a profession or vocation is evidence of survival to maturity. Comparison could not be made with data for the general population whose vital statistics begin at birth. The average duration of life for men whose work in part or in whole prior to the 20th century was in gerontology falls midway between the high level of 77 years for classical Greek authors and the low level of 51 years for revolutionary statesmen, and exactly between the levels of life duration for eunuchs and physical and medical scientists.

Aged↗
PubMed1975

The autopsy in geriatrics.

The marked decline in the autopsy rate is a serious matter that is not receiving enough attention in the present medical system. Before 1940, a high rate of postmortem examinations was a mark of distinction for a hospital and the findings contributed greatly to our knowledge of disease. This should continue. In geriatrics, a valuable goal is the differentiation of pathologic processes from the process of aging. One outstanding factor in the neglect of the autopsy is the cost to the hospital or other institution; moreover, the cost is not reimbursable by third-party insurance payers. The Pathology Resource Center is proposed as a solution for the problem. Regional autopsy centers could serve the surrounding institutions with greater competence and economy. Medicine should no longer be restricted regarding the valuable contributions to knowledge provided by autopsy findings.

Age Factors↗