Talk:Dorothea Maria Lösch

Raised Eyebrow

I am reluctant to myself edit, but let me here raise an eyebrow, so that someone with more resources can verify or dismiss this query.

Question 1. - is it legitimate to list this entry as a scientist? The sole possible reason is the line about being an "author" of a book on treating smallpox.

Looking at the footnoted original, and perhaps only, biography (1864) in Swedish, I find the relevant line, "Hon gav också ut en medicinsk bok om hur man behandlar koppärr." I must use Google to translate which gives at first "She also published a medical book on how to treat pockmark." Focus on solely the Swedish word "gav." That translates as "gave." Zoom out again and check alternate translations of the phrase "gav också ut" and Google offers "also issued." I think there is good reason to wonder if the term "author" is over-reach. If she merely passed out copies of another author's book, I diffidently query - has she done actual original scientific work, except distribute useful information to maintain health of the crew. Is there any scientific or notable originality in that action? Or was the book routinely being circulated by any ship's doctor of the era? Is she a "scientist" in the conventional use of the word?

There are numerous clones of this article across the web which can promulgate a possibly invalid perception that the individual is a female "scientist." If readers go by the statement as it now exists, some readers will proudly add this courageous lady's name to their collection of female scientists in history. Let us not birth a myth that may be created for want of careful reading of the Swedish text - the word "gav". This needs someone fluent in Swedish.

Question 2. - what supporting original sources exist?

The Facebook page of History Museum in Stockholm, Sweden discusses this. In Swedish "Problemet är bara att händelsen inte nämns någon annanstans än hos just Stålberg. Skeppet Armida verkar också ha gått historien obemärkt förbi och ingen vet vart kaptensfullmakten har tagit vägen. Vi kan alltså inte med säkerhet bekräfta Stålbergs påstående." In a rough Google translation: "The only problem is that the event is not mentioned anywhere else other than just Stalberg. The ship Armida also appears to have gone unnoticed in history and no one knows where the captain warrant has gone. We can not confirm with certainty Stålberg's claim." Note that Stålberg is the footnoted biography author.

Thus, the Stockholm native reports the results of their search. Notably, the Facebook page's own translation engine presents the studied line as "She also gave out a medical book about how to treat smallpox."

So far, the sole claim that she is a scientist is how the single word "gav" is translated from a single biography.

Question 3. - should the ceremonial nature of the rank be clearly stated in the opening statement?

Upon first reading I thought, "Oh, how exciting. The Swedish Navy appointed a female sea captain, and off she sailed on a career on the oceans. How ahead of the times that Sweden would do that." It takes careful reading of the end to realize, "Oh, the title was honorific, awarded sort of retrospectively after an act of heroism, and she was not appointed as a Captain in advance of such a career. Her status as a Captain is technical: on paper, on land, after she returned from battle." It is still a well-deserved title, but not as first understood. IGE (talk) 06:33, 16 March 2017 (UTC)

References

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