The Public Services and Social Science Division in collaboration with the Business Society discussed the nation's current fiscal situation. The symposium titled "When Work Disappears: An Assessment of the American Economic Crisis" covered a variety of important topics. Each panelist shared researched information about issues central to the current fiscal situation. Bill Walsh, Congressman Joe Sestak's District Manager, discussed the political implications of what got us into the economic mess. Professor Jeff Salavitabar discussed the $700 billion from last year that was earmarked primarily for the banking and finance sectors of the economy. Professor Charles Baker discussed banks and financial institutions being "To BiG to Fail" in the global economy, HItler's rise to power due to the Great Depression and how WWII led to the development of an economic system that is integrated globally. Professor Ali Ataiifar discussed the $787 billion bailout that goes to healthcare, education, construction and other projects designed to sure up American schools, access to medical care and the crumbling infrastructure. Lastly, Basil Gordon discussed what the local community can expect from the recent bailout. The feedback and responses from the community were positive and well received.
20 March 2009
Economic Crisis Panel Discussion
The Public Services and Social Science Division in collaboration with the Business Society discussed the nation's current fiscal situation. The symposium titled "When Work Disappears: An Assessment of the American Economic Crisis" covered a variety of important topics. Each panelist shared researched information about issues central to the current fiscal situation. Bill Walsh, Congressman Joe Sestak's District Manager, discussed the political implications of what got us into the economic mess. Professor Jeff Salavitabar discussed the $700 billion from last year that was earmarked primarily for the banking and finance sectors of the economy. Professor Charles Baker discussed banks and financial institutions being "To BiG to Fail" in the global economy, HItler's rise to power due to the Great Depression and how WWII led to the development of an economic system that is integrated globally. Professor Ali Ataiifar discussed the $787 billion bailout that goes to healthcare, education, construction and other projects designed to sure up American schools, access to medical care and the crumbling infrastructure. Lastly, Basil Gordon discussed what the local community can expect from the recent bailout. The feedback and responses from the community were positive and well received.
16 March 2009
Civil War Medicine at DCCC
The DCCC Student History Club, Campus Life, and the Public Services and Social Sciences Division hosted a presentation on "Medical Treatment during the American Civil War" in the Large Auditorium on 25 February. Officers of the Student History Club conducted a brief interview with the presenters, Ian Semmler from the Civil War Museum of Philadelphia and Herb Kaufman from the Civil War Institute at Manor College. Professor Jeffrey LaMonica is offering a course on the American Civil War and Reconstruction at the main campus this semester.
Student History Club Officers, Kelly Brennan and Sean Bray Interview Herb Kaufman
Herb Kaufman Presents on Civil War Medicine
Herb Kaufman Speaks with a Group of DCCC Students
Links
The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia
The Civil War Institute at Manor College
Where is the Civil War museum located?
Ian Semmler: It is actually not open currently, it will reopen in 2011.
How long has Herb Kaufman been doing these presentations?
Semmler: He has been teaching and doing civil war presentations for about thirty years.
Are most of your presentations done at colleges and universities?
Semmler: Well actually we go to a good number of elementary schools as well. In fact, one of the programs I am working on is bringing this presentation to schools in the city of Philadelphia that can't really afford to go on field trips to the museum. Untill we reopen in 2011, these are the kind of educational programs we will be working on.
What kind of education or training qualified a person to be a doctor?
Herb Kaufman: There was no training for doctors; all you needed was enough money to attend lectures. You gave your money to the professor, and went to his lectures for nine months, and then you would do this again the following year. After eighteen months of listening, you called yourself a doctor and went out and practiced on patients. That is why they call it practicing medicine. Surgeons learned by watching other surgeons and by reading European books. Sometimes they would stand over the patients during surgery, and have an assistant hold the book and would actually be reading and referencing the diagrams while performing the surgery.
How did they sterilize the tools and themselves before surgery?
Kaufman: They didn’t. They did not know what germs were. They would wipe a tool off with a dirty, bloody rag and move on to the next person. They also wore their uniform or street clothes during surgery. Some doctors would wear an apron so it would not ruin their uniform.
What kind of uniform did a doctor in the military wear?
Kaufman: The same as everyone else, except he had a green sash. The green came from the flag, a hospital tent would have a flag with a green “H” on it, this was before the Red Cross had come around. The problem with a doctor wearing the same uniform as everyone else is that they were shot at also.
How did a soldier seek treatment if wounded?
Kaufman: During the civil war a gentleman by the name of John Leatherman came up with a system that is still used on the modern battlefield today. There were three parts, first a field station. This was pretty much on the front line and they would triage you. They would assess the soldier and if needed, they would be sent to the division hospital. The division hospital was away from the action but still close to the battlefield, here is where they would set bones or perform surgery. From there you would go to the general hospital to recuperate; this was far away from the battlefield.
Did they really amputate limbs without anesthesia like in the movies?
Kaufman: No, they did not. That is a Hollywood myth, no one was biting bullets. All medics had ether or chloroform with them.
What did a medic carry on him?
Kaufman: While traveling he would carry a smaller set of tools and his drugs.
What was the main tool the doctors used?
Kaufman: Their finger. Remember they did not have a concept of germs. They used their fingers to probe wounds and try to find the bullets or shrapnel inside. When Lincoln was shot several different doctors stuck their fingers inside of his head trying to find out what was wrong and where the bullet had went.
What did they use for pain?
Kaufman: Large amounts of drugs like opium and alcohol. Of course they became addicted to it but they did not understand that either. It wasn’t wrong back then to be addicted to drugs and alcohol, they called it soldiers’ disease.
Was amputation really necessary?
Kaufman: When a bullet would hit a bone in your arm or leg it would shatter it, or sometimes the bullet did not exit; this can cause serious infection and you would die. If they amputated the limb it would get rid of the problem and a person would have a much higher rate of survival.
Student History Club Officers, Kelly Brennan and Sean Bray Interview Herb Kaufman
Herb Kaufman Presents on Civil War Medicine
Herb Kaufman Speaks with a Group of DCCC Students
Links
The Civil War Museum of Philadelphia
The Civil War Institute at Manor College
Dr. Ife Williams (Political Science)
On 27 February, Dr. Ife Williams led a group of students from her African-American History course to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and the National Constitution Center. The group visited the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in the morning for a tour of their permamnent Ancient Egyptian collection and special exhibit, "Iyare! Spendor and Tension in Benin's Palace Theatre". They traveled to the National Constitution Center in the afternoon to see "Freedom Rising", the center's permanent theatrical performance, and "America I Am: The African-American Imprint", a special exhibit from now until 3 May. Dr. Williams is offering a course on African-American history at DCCC's Southeast Center this semester.
Dr. Williams and her students in the U. Penn Museum's Egyptian Room
Dr. Williams' Students Tour the Benin Exhibit
Dr. Williams and Her Students at the Constitution Center
Dr. Williams and her students in the U. Penn Museum's Egyptian Room
Dr. Williams' Students Tour the Benin Exhibit
Dr. Williams and Her Students at the Constitution Center
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