| Prior to embarking for Europe for a
medical conference in 1999, I was handed a book by one of my
surgical residents entitled, "A Traveler's Guide to the
History of Biology and Medicine" (1986) by Dr. Eric
T. (Ted) Pengelley. As I had already planned on touring
some historical sites during my trip, I packed the guide and
on the flight read the section on Italy, my intended
destination. Intrigued by what I read, I visited three of
the featured sites in the guide and found their descriptions
to be highly accurate and informative. I felt that I had
gained much from incorporating these sites into my trip and
that the guide's information greatly enhanced the experience
of the actual visit.
Eager to learn more, I finished
Pengelley's guide upon my return to the United States.
However, on subsequent trips both here and abroad, I found
that some of the information in the guide was dated or
changed. I researched to see if another edition of the
guide was available, and my search led me directly to the
author himself. I contacted Dr. Pengelley directly and was
quite pleased when he graciously accepted my call.
During our conversation, he informed me he
was no longer interested in updating the guide because his
wife Daphne, who had co-authored the book, had passed away
some years earlier and that he himself was then 82 years
old. I asked Dr. Pengelley if he would allow me the
opportunity to update and rewrite the book, and he quite
willingly granted my request, transferring the rights to the
work to me.
The information you will be perusing is
almost entirely the original work by Ted and Daphne
Pengelley. Their obvious passion for the subject resulted
in beautifully styled descriptions that I do not believe
could be improved or enhanced in any way. Instead, what I
have done is update areas where needed. I have verified
site information and have obtained additional pictures to
supplement the descriptions. Where appropriate, I have
noted changes in museum or exhibit locations and included
additional points of interest not covered in the first
edition. And for medically-minded travelers, I have
highlighted and added sites dealing directly with the
history of medicine and, in particular, my own field of
surgery.
I would have preferred, out of my deep
respect and admiration of such a learned and charitable man,
that Dr. Pengelley be the one to write this introduction.
Sadly, though, he passed away before I had the chance to
approach him to consider it or for him to see how the
culmination of his life's research and personal discoveries
will now guide even more individuals through its publication
on the Internet.
I hope this guide will enhance your
studies and travels and ignite a passion for the rich
history of medicine both in the United States and abroad,
and may the remarkable discoveries of those who have
ventured before propel you in your own quests to advance
modern science and medicine.
Sir Isaac Newton once said, "If I have
seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulders of
giants." Dr. Pengelley, I thank you for just those
shoulders.
---
Julius P. Bonello, M.D.
Email comments to Dr. Bonello at
jbonello48@hotmail.com
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