Western Medicine: An Illustrated History - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198205090 ISBN 13: 9780198205098

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 1997

Synopsis

Covering all periods from Ancient Greece to the present day, this richly illustrated history of medicine offers information and insight on a wide variety of topics. The great milestones of medical history - among them the discovery of the circulation of the blood, vaccination against smallpox, the invention of the X-ray, the development of penicillin - are charted. They are set against the social context of medicine, with accounts of more neglected areas such as patterns of epidemics, the emergence of the medical profession, the history of nursing, unorthodox medical practice, the spread of western medicine beyond Europe and the US, and the patient's viewpoint. Authoritatively and accessibly written by a team of twenty distinguished medical historians and including a helpful glossary, a chronology, and a full index, this is a fascinating introduction to medicine in the west from its beginnings to the present day.

About this title

Review:

What should one demand of a good history of medicine? My choices would be accuracy, lucidity, coherence, balance, and enough individuality to mark it out from its competitors. On these criteria, this book scores high ... All the authors have good things to say, and say them well ... the volume fully deserves to be on the shelves of all those interested in the history of medicine ... No longer can readers only of English complain at the lack of suitable general histories, and professionals will find much to ponder and debate. (Vivian Nutton, Medical History)

has some excellent individual chapters. (PW, TLS)

This beautifully-produced book boasts so many stunning illustrations, including 37 colour plates, that it runs the risk of being dismissed as a 'coffee-table' production. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are 20 contributors, all of whom are distinguished medical historians and experts in their respective fields. (Anthony Storr, The Observer)

it is the pictures and their captions that bring the book to life and create lasting impressions of ancient and modern medicine ... a book whose chief purpose is to explain the nature, purpose and impact of visual imagery in medicine (The Times Higher Education Supplement)

this is the most informative, well written and beautifully illustrated text on medical history I have so far come across (Alan E.H. Emery, Neuromuscular Disorders 7 (1997))

The quality of the illustrations is complemented by some intelligent writing and several essays ... Altogether the book makes for a very accessible introduction to medical history. (James Le Fanu, The Daily Telegraph)

this richly illustrated history of medicine offers information and insight on a wide variety of topics ... Authoritatively and accessibly written by an international team of leading medical historians and including a helpful glossary, a chronology, and a full index, this is a fascinating introduction to medicine in the West from its beginnings to today. (Linacre's, Summer 97)

has some excellent individual chapters (Times Literary Supplement)

exceptionally high quality with many wonderful illustrations ... There has clearly been a tight overall view of what was needed and who was to do it. (British Medical Journal)

This engrossing history of medicine begins with Ancient Greece and carries on to the present day. This is a fascinating insight into a profession which all too often sees its history in the form of practitioners and institutions. (Contemporary Review)

About the Author:

A former GP and Research Fellow at the Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, University of Oxford, Irvine Loudon's books include Death in Childbirth: An International Study of Maternal Care and Maternal Mortality 1800-1959 (Clarendon Press, 1992).

About this edition

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0198205090
• ISBN 13: 9780198205098
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 364
• Editor: Loudon Irvine