A Rare Find: a 19th Century Song about Cholera in Slovenia and Its Interpretation

The accidental discovery of an 1847 manuscript in the Local History and Special Collections Department at Maribor University Library in Slovenia (shelfmark: Kreps, 1847; UKM Ms 563), which contains, among other things, a song about cholera, was the basis for its contextual interpretation and comparison with related recorded songs. This new discovery is important because the song refers to the first wave of cholera on Slovene territory in 1836, whereas other songs describing the disease were written later. The text of the song resembles a collection of frightening news about the disease circulating among the people. The questions of whether the information in the song is real or fictional, genuine or exaggerated are discussed in light of the memory of cholera outbreaks found in other songs of the same genre and historical data.

The Iphis Incident: Ovid’s Accidental Discovery of Gender Dysphoria

This article examines what the author argues is Ovid's accidental discovery of gender dysphoria with recourse to an incident in the Metamorphoses. The author argues that Ovid has accidentally discovered gender dysphoria as evidenced through the character of Iphis in Book IX of the Metamorphoses. It is unlikely that Ovid could have imagined the ramifications of such a “discovery”; however, the “symptoms” described in his narrative match exceedingly closely with modern, clinical definitions. These are explored in the article along with how Ovid may have, through personal experience, been able to achieve such a penetrating, albeit accidental, insight. The wider, epistemological context of this topic is considered alongside Ovid's personal circumstances which may have contributed to his unique understanding of a condition that modern science has only recently identified.

Pattern of congenital heart disease among Egyptian children: a 3-year retrospective study

Background Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a multifactorial birth defect which has variable demographic characteristics among children in different geographical areas. This study aimed to detect the distribution of demographic data, perinatal risk factors, types, age, and mode of presentation of CHD among Egyptian children. Results The medical records of 1005 patients were included. They were 545 males (54%) and 462 females (46%) with a ratio of 1.2:1. Acyanotic CHD was encountered in 79.2%. Isolated ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot were the most common acyanotic and cyanotic lesions, respectively. The majority was diagnosed within the first year of life (86.7%) and was born to young mothers (91.3%). The accidental discovery of a murmur was the most frequent presentation (35%). Heart failure was detected in 44%, audible murmurs in 74.4%, maternal illnesses in 54%, consanguinity in 44.6%, prematurity in 19.3%, assisted reproduction in 11.7%, family history of CHD in 9.2%, abortions in 7.1%, and extracardiac anomalies in 3.6% of the studied population. Down syndrome (DS) was the most commonly occurring chromosomal anomaly, and the atrioventricular septal defect was the most characteristic cardiac lesion found among them. Conclusions There is no sex predilection among Egyptian children with CHD. Most of the cases are diagnosed in early infancy. Accidental discovery of a murmur is the most common mode of presentation. A variety of predisposing risk factors are abundant in the Egyptian population. DS is the most common chromosomal anomaly linked to CHD. Establishment of a national medical birth registry containing all information about all births in Egypt is needed for adequate surveillance and monitoring of perinatal health problems and congenital birth defects so that preventive measures can be early implemented. Proper and detailed data collection should be fulfilled in the medical records of every single patient.

An Accidental Discovery of Tracheobronchomegaly: a Case Report

Tracheobronchomegaly is a rare disease with congenital abnormal change in respiratory tract; its image features are also very special. In this case, we described a 57-year-old male with cough, expectoration, chest pain, and dyspnea. In our institution, the result of chest CT scan is highly extraordinary, which showed obvious dilation of the trachea and main bronchi, emphysema, and a number of pulmonary bullae, and there was a big bulla with air-fluid level on the lower lobe of the right lung. Fortunately, after wedge resection for the big bulla on the lower lobe of right lung under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, this patient’s symptoms were significantly relieved. The clinical manifestations of tracheobronchomegaly lack specificity; this disease has freakish image features. At present, there are no effective treatments for tracheobronchomegaly, which just was an accidental discovery in this patient; we just mainly take surgical measures to treat the big bulla for relieving symptoms.

Coda

The project for this book began with the author’s accidental discovery of Kazuko Amano’s and Kunihiko Hashimoto’s letters in the Leonard Bernstein Collection at the Library of Congress. Subsequent research in various archives and corresponding with and meeting the two individuals, in Tokyo and Sydney, respectively, took her on an unexpected journey as a scholar and a writer. In this coda, the author reflects upon her findings and the research process, as well as the portent of correspondence, especially handwritten letters sent through what is now colloquially called snail mail that shaped Amano’s and Hashimoto’s special relationship with Bernstein.

Methodology of the experiment

The authors invite reader to learn the main skills of the experimenter. The book provides general rules by which we experience the world. Case studies are selected from the various sciences, from physics and biology to criminology and sociology. Educational tasks and exercises are offered to the reader. How are subject and object of study born? Is there an algorithm for the process of the unknown cognition? What are the prerequisites of accidental discovery? How to improve the performance of experiments? Why are different scales to provide data used? The answers enable us to become the authors of our own discoveries. For undergraduates, graduate students, researchers.