Yearly Archives: 2015

Weight Not Measured in Pounds: “Fischerisms.”

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By Nathan Hood

Fischer 1912 Faculty Photo

Dr. Martin H. Fischer, faculty photo from 1912.

Scientist, professor, author, artist – at the time of his death in 1962, the wealth of Dr. Martin H. Fischer’s experiences had him regarded by some to be a kind of ‘universal man.’ Who was Dr. Martin H. Fischer? The overwhelming prevalence of dates, research, and other such facts are often too impersonal and superficial to reveal much about the deeper character of this impressive person. Fortunately, there still exist copies of a booklet too ironically and deceptively inconspicuous for the enormous significance of the information it contains: Fischerisms.

Fischerisms is a compilation of Dr. Fischer’s various aphorisms first brought together by Howard Fabing with the aid of Albert Flagge and first published by the Medical College Bookstore, University of Cincinnati, in 1930. Continue reading →

Vaccination Efforts from Around the Globe: The Story of Dr. Sabin and Dr. Harshavardhan

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Dr.

Dr. Harshavardhan (1969)

By: Dr. G. V. J. A. Harshavardhan and Nathan Hood

Dr. Albert Bruce Sabin’s extremely influential role in the development and production of an Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) simply cannot be disputed; however, information on the precise details of his contributions are not always as well-known or as accessible as one would hope. Fortunately, The Winkler Center for the History of Health Professions’ NEH-funded project to digitize many of Dr. Sabin’s papers has now reached researchers around the globe. Several months ago, the project attracted the delighted attention of Dr. Harshavardhan, a vaccinologist in India, and the exchange of information since has been enlightening for both sides.

Continue reading →

Check Out the Latest Issue of Source

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sourceRead Source, the online newsletter, to learn more about the news, events, people and happenings in UC Libraries.

This latest issue of Source includes an An Update from Dean and University Librarian Xuemao Wang on a Busy Year, as well as announcements of two events – the June 24th public book signing for the Looking East: William Howard Taft and the 1905 Diplomatic Mission to Asia and an exhibit showcasing the fine work of The Preservation Lab. There is an article highlighting renovation plans for library spaces, as well as how the Libraries are welcoming the newest Bearcats to campus. Read these articles and more.

Source is available on the web at http://libapps.libraries.uc.edu/source/ and via e-mail. To receive Source via e-mail, contact melissa.norris@uc.edu to be added to the mailing list.

Wisdom on The Walls of The Old College of Medicine

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By: Nathan Hood

fischer edited

Portrait of Dr. Martin H. Fischer,
undated

Dr. Martin H. Fischer designed many of the interior, decorative elements in and around his lecture hall located within the University of Cincinnati’s old College of Medicine. The majority of these ornaments were engravings expertly crafted by Dr. Fischer’s technical assistant and friend, Josef Kupka. Mr. Kupka was Dr. Fischer’s assistant for thirty years, from 1912 to 1942. He served Dr. Fischer for the greater part of the former’s active career as a professor of physiology at the University of Cincinnati.

It has been suggested that Dr. Fischer conceived the idea for the engravings after recognizing how the daily quotations he shared with his classes interested and inspired his students. However, the idea was only realized after his place of instruction was moved from the University’s Cunningham Hall to the newly constructed College of Medicine building in 1917. Continue reading →

Call for Nominations for the Featured UC Faculty ‘Life of the Mind’ Presenter

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life of the mindThe vision of Life of the Mind is to celebrate University of Cincinnati faculty research, scholarship and creative output and to foster the free and open exchange of ideas and discourse. Started in spring 2011, Life of the Mind is an annual lecture series featuring interdisciplinary conversations with UC faculty around a one-word theme. Continue reading →

The Stained Glass Windows of Dr. Martin H. Fischer’s Lecture Hall

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By: Nathan Hood

Close-up.
A variation of the University’s
coat of arms remains in the
Health Professions building.

In the University of Cincinnati’s modern- looking Health Professions building, the students in Room 231 have the odd privilege of enjoying several beautifully old, stained glass windows. The windows are reminiscent of a time before the renovations, when the building was the University’s College of Medicine. In the past, one of these rooms served as the physiology lecture hall, initially overseen by Dr. Martin H. Fischer. That intriguing space once featured the entire Cantagalli Pharmacy installation, numerous symbolic engravings, and leather orchestra chairs; but the stained glass windows of that old classroom and the neighboring library are an interesting story by themselves.
Continue reading →

Looking East Book Signing Scheduled for June 24

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Looking EastJoin UC Libraries for a public book signing for Looking East: William Howard Taft and the 1905 U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Asia. The Photographs of Harry Fowler Woods.

The event, scheduled for June 24, 7pm, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood Pavilion, will include readings by authors Margo Taft Stever and Hong Shen.

Continue reading →

OhioLINK Catalog and Hosted Services Unavailable June 12 & 13

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All OH-TECH organizations – including OhioLINK – are moving to a new data center as the building that houses their current data center is slated to be demolished. The new location at the State of Ohio Computing Center will provide OhioLINK with a near-Tier 4 data center that can deliver a higher grade of services and achieve greater efficiencies.

Because of the move,  all OhioLINK hosted services will be down for the move during the following window: Friday, June 12, 6pm – Saturday, June 13, 12pm.

This will include:

  • OhioLINK website
  • Central Catalog
  • EJC
  • EBC
  • DRC
  • ETD
  • EAD
  • EZProxy
  • Rave URLS

OhioLINK mailing lists will not be affected by the outage, and OhioLINK staff will communicate with membership via email and social media (http://twitter.com/ohiolink and http://facebook.com/ohiolink) if necessary during the maintenance window.

Dr. Martin H. Fischer and The Cantagalli Pharmacy

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By: Nathan Hood

Major renovations of the University of Cincinnati’s previous College of Medicine building, now the Health Professions building, led to The Winkler Center for the History of the Health Professions’ acquisition of numerous, intricately decorated artifacts altogether known as The Cantagalli Pharmacy. The entire collection represents a precise imitation of a 15th-16th Century Italian Apothecary and originally functioned as an exhibit for the 1900 Paris Exposition.

15th-century pharmacy Cantagalli II

The Cantagalli Pharmacy in its Exposition configuration.
This photo also serves as a link to film footage from the 1900 Paris Exposition.

Continue reading →