Wayne State University School of Medicine - Yearbook (Detroit, MI)

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The Beltmann Archive Metal workers get sick by breathing bad vapors and by bending position. The growth and development of occupational medicine and environmental health had its inception with the beginning of prehistoric man, who made efforts to control his environment and to battle against the sometimes mysterious, but always present dangers of illness attend- ing occupation. ln large measure, the efforts in that regard slowly simmered during most of the Middle Ages. During the 15th and 16th Centuries it was sporadically stimulated by the writings of Ellenborg, Agricola and Paracelsus. Not until Bernardino Ramazzini, the father of occupational medicine, made his classic studies in the 17th Century on diseases of workers, were any concerted efforts made to protect people who worked. Ramazzini's advice went unheeded while the world underwent the economic and social upheaval of the industrial revolution. The wholesale poisonings, crippling and maiming of workers, inherent in the industrial environment of the time, however, created a social awareness of the problem, and the modern concept of occupational medicine was born. Among the descriptions which Ramazzini left for posterity, there are many examples relating to the signs and symptoms of disease caused by occupation. In addi- tion, he left two dictums. The first of these was his exhortation to all physicians to ask of their patients not only the usual questions regarding their health, but also to inquire without fail of what trade are you. The other command of the Qld Master was that physicians should learn the nature of the occupational disease in shops, mills, mines or wherever men toil. These dictums are worthy of adherence by all who are engaged with the detection, care and prevention of occupational disease. Osler believed that clinical medicine is best learned in the wards of hospitals. Ramazzini taught that occupa- tional diseases most effectively are studied not only in the wards, but also in the work environment. This dual con- cept is more fully appreciated today than ever before. Accordingly, the modern practice of occupational and environmental health engages not only the physician, but also members of the para medical, social and legal professions. 45

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IEPARTME T OF OOOUPATKD WD AL E VHUDlME HEALTH TAL ARTHUR J. VORWALD, CHAIRMAN FIRST ROW: Alexander, H. Hirschleld, Ralph G. Smith, S. Daniel Steiner, Arthur Vorwald, Marion W. jocz, Lyndle R. Martin, john H. Ganchow. SECOND ROW: Douglas Wood, William G. Fred- rick, Louis W. Staudt, Martin F. Bruton, Edwin Dejongh, William -lend, Jr., Andrew L. Reeves, Daniel Deitch, George M. Hama Thomas F. Mooney, jr. NOT PICTURED: Harry ll. Berke, Donaldxj Birmingham, Earle A. Irvin, Duane L. Block, Robert C. Bchan Andrew T. Dempster, Stanley H. Schuman.

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S., ,W--...., ag' DIVI IQ GF NCOLOGY .Y nf-.i W.--T Y,-. j r f Vainutis K. Vaitkevicius, Director SITTING: Rodrigo Motta, V.K. Vaitkevicius. STANDING: Glen W. Straatsma, Bruce McDonald and Muhyi Al-Sarraf.