History of Medicine Archives

Pharmacy labels, before and after advent of food and drug administration

By rjoshimgims June 10, 2026History of Medicine, Tools in HealthNo Comments

The first food and drug administration (FDA) was established in US in 1906. Before that pharmacies were an unregulated lot. Various products were sold in the name of medicines, and…

Seven medical success stories from India in stamps

By rjoshimgims March 15, 2026Health concepts, History of Medicine

Health and medicine related postage stamps from India are mostly about personalities (See a previous blog), or about institutions (Another blog here). Some other A handful of others celebrate progress…

Gender portrayal: Masculinity for war, and Feminism for care

By rjoshimgims March 8, 2026Health concepts, History of Medicine2 Comments

Postage stamps mirror societal perceptions. Human societies have long associated masculinity with power, dominance, and conquest, while feminism emphasizes empathy, equality, and care. Thus, scars and destruction from wars are…

Portuguese were the first to begin health-care colonialism

By rjoshimgims February 19, 2026History of Medicine1 Comment

Here come the Portuguese It was 1498 when Vasco-da-Gama set sailing around Africa, and reached Southern part of India by sea. By this time, Portuguese or its agents had set-up…

Berlin doctors soon after second world war was over

By rjoshimgims February 13, 2026Health Professionals, History of Medicine3 Comments

Adolf Hitler killed himself on 30th April 1945, and over next two days German garrison in Berlin had surrendered. Soviet army from the east, south and north moved in to…

Four medical innovations with an Australian link

By rjoshimgims July 12, 2025History of Medicine, Misc

Early in 2020, Australia Post issued a set of four postage stamps on Medical Innovations. These stamps are bright and attractive, and each of these innovations were disruptive for the…

Eye of Horus and ocular symbolism

By rjoshimgims April 14, 2025History of Medicine

Index Home Recently I had the pleasure of collective viewing of one of my stamp albums with a co-philatelist. He stopped at a first day cover, that had a peculiar sketch.…

Maimonides a philosopher-physician of medieval times

By rjoshimgims September 22, 2024Health Professionals, History of Medicine

Index Home We donot attribute middle ages or the medieval period, with any major scientific advancement. Europe, in these times was a battleground for religions. Since christianity was on a rise,…

Persecution, Politics and Science in China

By rjoshimgims June 9, 2024Health Professionals, History of Medicine1 Comment

Index Home Between 1988 and 2022, China post issued nine sets of postage in a series with a title "Scientists of modern China". This series has a total of 38 postage…

Transkei and its series on heroes of medicine

By rjoshimgims May 26, 2024Health Professionals, History of Medicine3 Comments

Index Home I had never heard about Transkei till I stumbled on its postage stamps. This country does not exist today. When it did, except one, none recognised it. Transkei was…