National Library of Medicine Exhibit
Einstein’s D. Samuel Gottesman Library is hosting a traveling exhibit of the National Library of Medicine, “And There’s the Humor of it’: Shakespeare and the Four Humors.”
Library staff members (from left) Rachel Schwartz, Racheline Habousha and Winifred King pose by the latest NLM exhibit on view in the lobbyThe now outdated medical theory of the four humors (blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm), developed by the Greek philosophers Aristotle, Hippocrates and Galen, suggested that human temperaments, dispositions, behaviors and health are caused by either the lack or the excess of these four body fluids, or “humors.” The misbegotten belief was still in use in William Shakespeare’s lifetime (1564-1616). It pervaded his plays, reflecting how existing medical knowledge of a particular era can shape the peoples’ collective understanding and permeate the literary zeitgeist.
Aurelia Minuti, head of reference and educational services, also helped to stage the NLM exhibitThe National Library of Medicine teamed with the Folger Shakespeare Library to develop the exhibit, which explores the four humors in Shakespeare’s portrayal of his characters and their personalities through a series of display panels depicting excerpts from some of the writer’s most beloved plays. The text is aptly accompanied by medieval drawings.
“It is an interesting demonstration of how medical knowledge influences literature, as seen through the writings of one of humanity’s best-known literary figures,” said Aurelia Minuti, head of reference and educational services at Einstein’s library. “It also sheds light on the modern interpretations of the four humors in contemporary medicine.”
“It definitely makes you see Shakespeare’s characters in a different light,” said Daniel Jacobs, a second-year medical student and an avid Shakespeare fan.
A student views the exhibit during a break from studyingThe exhibit is on view during regular library hours through Friday, May 13, 2016. It opened on April 4, with a special celebration held on April 7 at which members of the Einstein community were invited to read from the plays best known for depicting the four humors. While time remains, be sure to stop in “for the humor of it.”
Also, mark your calendar for the next NLM traveling exhibit, “Every Necessary Care and Attention: George Washington and Medicine,”which is slated to be on view in the library from Tuesday, May 31 through Sunday, July 10. This new exhibit explores George Washington’s own health while also examining the ways in which he sought to safeguard the health and wellness of those in his charge. It illuminates the broader context of the experience of illness during a period in history when the practice of medicine was transitioning from a traditional healer craft to a profession.
Posted on: Wednesday, May 04, 2016