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Mark Twain and Medicine: "Any Mummery Will Cure"

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Mark Twain And Medicine: "Any Mummery Will Cure" by K. Patrick Ober (Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Dean for Education, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an informative and scholarly survey and analysis of the famous and opinionated American author Mark Twain's views of and experiences with the medical profession. Twain's experiments with alternative care systems available in his era (partly due to his frustration with the shortcomings of traditional medicine), and Twain's articulate (and sometimes scathing) commentaries offer a unique perspective on the American medical industry of his day -- and still comes alive for contemporary readers who are keeping in mind how the author's life experience impacted his great works of literature. Highly recommended for in-depth American literature studies shelves, and particularly for those devoted to Twain's immortal literary classics, Mark Twain And Medicine is a welcome addition to academic and community library collections.

Mark Twain and Medicine is an absolutely wonderful book. Not only is the story it tells entertaining, but the insight into the history of medicine and its relationship to our own health care system is informative and thought provoking. I found myself anticipating each chapter, wondering what the next new medical trend would be. I was alternately amused and amazed by this evolution. Do yourself a real favor and read this book. Then, do your physician a favor, and give her or him a copy. You will find yourself discussing and using what you learn as long as you deal with doctors.