Symposium: "Impact of the Julio-Claudians and Their Illnesses on Roman History" (University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore)
Forwarded to HISTNEUR-L from CADUCEUS-L. Note that one of the speakers is ISHN member Gregory Bergey of Johns Hopkins University. -- Russell Johnson --- Begin Forwarded Message --- Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 09:55:14 -0500 From: Philip.Mackowiak@med.va.gov Subject: FW: Clinicopathological Conference To: caduceus-l@list.umaryland.edu January 12, 2001 The Baltimore VA Medical Center/University of Maryland will convene their annual Historical Clinicopathological Conference on Friday, February 9, 2001. The conference will take place in Davidge Hall on the University of Maryland School of Medicine campus. All are welcome. As in previous years, we have an exciting program focusing on the mysterious death of a famous historical figure (see attached case history). The conference will last two hours and will include lunch. On Saturday, February 10, 2001 (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), we will host a companion symposium (see attached program). Like the Friday Historical Clinicopathological Conference, it will be held in Davidge Hall and will include lunch. Sincerely, Philip A. Mackowiak, M.D. Director, Medical Care VA Maryland Healthcare System Professor and Vice Chairman, Dept. of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine 410-605-7199 (Office) 410-605-7849 (FAX) E-mail: Philip.Mackowiak@med.va.gov VA Maryland Health Care System Department of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine A Special Clinicopathological Conference With Discussants William Valente, M.D. Richard Talbert, Ph.D. The Case of A 64 year-old man with postprandial abdominal pain and vomiting Davidge Hall Lombard and Greene Streets >From noon to 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2001 In the month of October, a 64-year old man developed postprandial abdominal pain and vomiting. He had been feeling well until passing out during a banquet in which he had consumed a large quantity of wine and a variety of dishes, of which one composed of mushrooms was a long-time favorite. On regaining consciousness a short time later, he complained of severe abdominal pain. He vomited and felt somewhat better. Prior to this illness, the patient had enjoyed reasonably good health for over a decade. However, early in life he had been sickly. He was born prematurely (after 7 mos. gestation) and as a child, suffered from a succession of obstinate disorders, including milk allergy and frequent febrile illnesses. He is also believed to have had malaria, measles (complicated by unilateral deafness), erysipelas and colitis. Since early childhood, he had had weakness of both legs so pronounced that he limped noticeably and could ambulate no further than short distances without assistance. He had long-standing, intention tics and jerks of his head and hands, as well as stammering and drooling, which were most pronounced when he was excited. He was also prone to fits of inappropriate laughter. He regularly ate and drank to excess, rarely leaving his dining room until he was both "stuffed and soaked." Thus, it was not unusual for him to fall asleep immediately after dining and have to be carried unconscious to his bed. He had gained considerable weight in recent years and had been complaining bitterly of episodes of heartburn so frequent and severe that he contemplated suicide as a means of relief. The patient's father died of trauma at age 28; his mother committed suicide at age 73. He had one brother who had died at age 34 of a mysterious illness manifested by progressive wasting with terminal acrocyanosis and a trunkal rash. His sister was executed for adultery at age 34. There was no family history of neurological abnormalities similar to the patient's. The patient was born in France, but had spent most of his life in Italy. He had been married four times and had also had numerous heterosexual relationships, including several with prostitutes. He had three children, all of whom were alive and well at the time of his illness. He was a politician, and an historian. Physical examination showed an obese man in moderate distress. The temperature was normal. The eyes were injected. The hearing was impaired unilaterally. The abdomen was mildly tender throughout. The voice was hoarse and indistinct. The patient stammered uncontrollably in response to questioning with considerable slobbering and rhinorrhea. The neck muscles were enlarged. The muscles of his upper extremities were well developed and strong, whereas those of both lower extremities, especially the calves, were weak and atrophied. When the patient walked, he dragged his right foot. A physician induced additional vomiting by placing a feather in the back of the patient's throat. Shortly thereafter the patient's condition deteriorated. He became confused and exhibited signs of unremitting abdominal pain and fecal incontinence. He expired 12 hours after the onset of his illness. VA Maryland Health Care System Department of Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine A Symposium Impact of the Julio-Claudians and Their Illnesses on Roman History With Discussants Anthony Barrett, Ph.D. Gregory Bergey, M.D. David Mays, Pharm.D. William Carpenter, M.D. Sandra Joshel, Ph.D. Davidge Hall Lombard and Greene Streets >From 9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, February 10, 2001 IMPACT OF THE JULIO-CLAUDIANS AND THEIR ILLNESSES ON ROMAN HISTORY February 10, 2001 PROGRAM 9:00 Welcome -- Philip Mackowiak, M.D. 9:05 Legacies of the Julio-Claudians and Their Disorders -- Anthony Barrett, Ph.D. 9:35 Julius and his Seizures -- Gregory Bergey, M.D. 9:55 Augustus and the Politics of Poison -- David Mays, Pharm. D. 10:15 Questions -- Judith Hallett, Ph.D. 10:30 Break 11:00 Caligula, Nero and The Julio-Claudian Psyche -- William Carpenter, M.D. 11:20 Robert Graves and The Julio-Claudian Historical Record -- Sandra Joshel, Ph.D. 11:50 Questions -- Judith Hallett, Ph.D. 12:05 Closing Remarks -- Philip Mackowiak, M.D. 12:15 Lunch Davidge Hall, built in 1812, is the second oldest medical school building in the United States and the oldest in continuous service. This symposium has been generously supported by unrestricted educational grants from the Bayer Corporation, Wyeth-Ayerst, and Merck & Co., Inc. DISCUSSANTS Anthony Barrett is Professor of Classics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He has written two imperial biographies, on Caligula and Agrippina, the mother of Nero, and has completed the manuscript of a third, on Livia, the wife of Augustus. He conducts a training excavation at the Lunt Roman Fort (dated to the reign of Nero), in the village of Baginton, near Coventry, England. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and Fellow of the Royal Society Canada. Gregory Bergey was a member of the University of Maryland faculty from 1983 to 1999. He is currently a Professor of Neurology and director of The Epilepsy Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His work over more than 20 years of scientific investigation has established him as one of the world's leading experts on the pathophysiology and treatment of epilepsy. David Mays is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Pharmacy. He also serves as Director of the UMB Drug Information Service in affiliation with the University of Maryland Medical System. He is an active member of the American Society of Health System Pharmacy, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. He recently created the world's first University-based, Internet Drug Information Service. William Carpenter is Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. His major professional interest has been severe mental illness, especially schizophrenia. He has made fundamental contributions in psychopathology, assessment methodology, testing of new treatments, and research ethics. He has authored over 250 scientific articles, book chapters and books and was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 1998. Sandra Joshel teaches in the Liberal Arts Department at the New England Conservatory of Music, an interdisciplinary program for musicians. She is the author of Work, Identity and Legal Status at Rome (University of Oklahoma Press, 1992) and articles on slavery and gender. She is the co-editor of Differential Equations: Slaves and Women in Greco-Roman Culture (Routledge, 1998) and Imperial Projections: Images of Ancient Rome in Modern Popular Culture (Johns Hopkins, forthcoming, summer, 2001). --- End Forwarded Message ---