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Posted: 2/18/10

Monday Lecture at TAMIU Explores Mystery of George Washington

 

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Texas A&M International University students and members of the community at large will have a rare opportunity to travel back in time to review the state of medicine in the 1700s when local physician and guest lecturer Dr. Jane Unzeitig presents “Medical Triumphs and Tribulations in the 1700s,” on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at TAMIU’s Student Center room 236.

The lecture, hosted by the Daughters of American Revolution (DAR), is the inaugural event of the DAR Historical Lecture Series and is offered free of charge. 


A local allergist and member of the Lucy Meriwether Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Dr. Unzeitig has presented medical history lectures to local DAR members. 


“When asked to give a presentation several years ago, I naturally gravitated towards the subject of medicine in revolutionary times,” Unzeitig explained, “The New England Journal of Medicine that year published a chilling account of the calamitous events surrounding the medical care and subsequent death of George Washington.

“Further research on events in that era focused on illnesses that have long been eradicated and on treatments that had been used for centuries and had absolutely no benefit for the patient,”
 she noted.

Among penetrating questions raised by the well-researched lecture: Did the efforts of the finest physicians in 1799 actually hasten the death of the Father of our Country? Why was the only physician to sign the Declaration of Independence accused of killing more patients than he cured? Why was he on trial for malpractice on the day of the death of George Washington?


Unzeitig has been practicing medicine for over 29 years with specialties in pediatrics, allergy and immunology. She graduated from Northwestern University Medical School (Chicago) and completed her residency training in pediatrics and her fellowship training in adult and pediatric allergy at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.


For more information, contact the TAMIU Office for Institutional Advancement at 326-4483.

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Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu