The History of Medicine by William Bynum

The History of Medicine by William Bynum

Against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this Very Short Introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times, through the scholastic medieval tradition and the Enlightenment to the present day. Taking a thematic rather than strictly chronological approach, W.F. Bynum, explores the key turning points in the history of Western medicine-such as the first surgical procedures, the advent of hospitals, the introduction of anesthesia, X-Rays, vaccinations, and many other innovations, as well as the rise of experimental medicine. The book also explores Western medicine's encounters with Chinese and Indian medicine, as well as nontraditional treatments such as homeopathy, chiropractic, and other alternative medicines. Covering a vast amount of information, this Very Short Introduction sheds new light on medicine's past, while at the same time engaging with contemporary issues, discoveries, and controversies, such as the spiraling costs of health care, lack of health insurance for millions, breakthrough treatments, and much more. For readers who wish to understand the how we have arrived at our current state of medical practice and knowledge, this book is essential reading.About the Series: Combining authority with wit, accessibility, and style, Very Short Introductions offer an introduction to some of life's most interesting topics. Written by experts for the newcomer, they demonstrate the finest contemporary thinking about the central problems and issues in hundreds of key topics, from philosophy to Freud, quantum theory to Islam.

William Bynum is Professor Emeritus of the History of Medicine at University College, London, and was for many years Head of the Academic Unit of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. He edited the scholarly journal Medical History from 1980 to 2001, and has written on many aspects of the history of medicine and its basic sciences. His previous publications include Science and the Practice of Medicine in the Nineteenth Century (CUP); The Companion Encyclopedia of the History of Medicine (2 vols., edited with Roy Porter, Routledge); The Oxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations (with Roy Porter, Oxford); and The Dictionary of Medical Biography (5 vols., with Helen Bynum, Greenwood).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780199215430
ISBN 10	019921543X
Title	The History of Medicine
Author	William Bynum
Series	Very Short Introductions
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2008-07-31
Number of pages	192
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.