The journal ‘Medicinsk Revue’

‘Medicinsk Revue’ was a Norwegian medical journal based in the scientific community of Bergens Museum. The journal was established in 1884 by the physicians Eduard Bøckmann, Gerhard Armauer Hansen, Joachim Wiesener and Klaus Hanssen. All of them were from Bergen.

‘Medicinsk Revue’ was a monthly publication that gained nationwide circulation. The journal featured original works by Norwegian scientists but mainly relied on the reproduction of summaries of international research. The scientific library at Lungegård Hospital played an important role.

In 1939, ‘Medicinsk Revue’ became part of the journal ‘Nordisk Medicin’, along with the journal ‘Norsk Magazin for lægevidenskaben’ (Norwegian Journal of Medical Science) established in 1840. In addition to that, there was the journal ‘Tidsskrift for den Norske Lægeforening’ (Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association). In around 1900, there were consequently three large medical journals in Norway, each with its own primary focus. While ‘Norsk Magazin for Lægevidenskaben’ was reserved for ‘strictly scientific topics, ‘Tidsskrift for den Norske Lægeforening’ focused more on the practical aspects of medicine.

Before ‘Medicinsk Revue’ was established, leprosy physicians in Bergen had also shared their experiences and opinions in other medical journals, notably in the journal ‘Eyr’, published from 1826–1837, and in ‘Ugeskrift for Medicin og Pharmacie’, published from 1842-45.

‘Medicinsk Revue’ from 1904 features, among other articles, translations and book reviews, the articles ‘Eating fish as the cause of leprosy’ by G. Armauer Hansen and ‘The dangers of diving in deep water’ by H. P. Lie.