The science and art of healing is now more necessary than ever, as our bodies face new challenges from globalization, environmental change and increased longevity. From letting blood to keyhole surgery, from the theory of humours to the genetic revolution, from the stethoscope to the MRI scanner, this inspiring compendium explains medicine’s turning points and conceptual changes in a refreshingly accessible way and answers some key questions:
• How has the plague influenced the course of human history?
• What effect did the pill have on the lives of women, and on society as a whole?
• How are diseased hearts and worn-out hips replaced?
• What should complementary medicine’s role be?
• How did an audacious self-experiment lead to a cure for stomach ulcers?
The book is magnificently illustrated throughout with a unique array of pictures, from Islamic manuscripts and Renaissance anatomical drawings to the very latest computer-generated images of viruses and photographs.
