Customer Reviews

Great Ideas in the History of Surgery

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Five stars plus. This has been one of my favorite books for nearly 30 years. When I am bored or jaded by much reading, I pick up this book to rekindle my interest in the world. Fine writing worth reading for that reason alone, but also fine writing about an important and neglected story.

The authors pick a very wide range of surgeons to discuss, from ancient times to the 19th century. The book shows the range, inventiveness and often iron courage of the many pioneers who cut into unanesthetized human flesh, and braved the great agonies they caused with their knives in the quest to heal. They sought to end suffering but through suffering, offering the only hope which could be offered. In addition to short, very well-written and informative essays on each surgeon or surgical school, the authors present well-chosen exerpts from the original writings. Surgical problem after surgical problem are describe in various chapters, developments are followed over the centuries, but the focus is always on fascinating biography. The flavor is that fine scientists and historians writing in a tyle and content of humanism. An outstanding achievement! Belongs at the bedside of anyone interested in the history of medicine, or who simply wants to read a fanastic tale, very, very well-told. One of the great books!