The Medical Detectives II

Roger P. Smith

Wednesdays, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
March 24 - May 5, 2004
D.O.C. House

This class was last offered in the Fall Term of 2000. This version is about 50% new material. We will use for background insofar as possible The New Yorker stories of Berton Roueche originally published under the rubric "Annals of Medicine." Many of those true, epidemiological stories were then compiled over the years into seven anthologies. All reading material will be duplicated for you in the course syllabus. Although a serious attempt will be made to limit the technical aspects, people with at least a nodding acquaintance with the medical sciences will probably get the most out of the material. The study leader is trying hard to overcome the bad habits acquired over more than forty years as a standup lecturer. Assertive class discussion is welcomed and encouraged. The topics are diverse and include sulfur in the environment, poison control, Vitamin A, hormones, memory and other psychological phenomena.

Class is limited to 20 members.

Roger P. Smith is the Irene Heinz Given Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology Emeritus of Dartmouth Medical School. His previous ILEAD courses have included "Poisonings and Other Things," and the minicourses "Drugs" and "Neutral Spirits." In his dotage, he is also trying to fashion a career as a free-lance writer. His contributions have appeared in Dartmouth Medicine, DMS Alumni News and Notes, and Here in Hanover.