William Henry Welch and the Heroic Age of American Medicine (Hardcover)

~ Simon Flexner (Author), James Thomas Flexner (Author) "DR. WELCH is our greatest statesman in the field of public health," said the president of the United States, and all over the world scientist..." (more)
Key Phrases: aerogenes capsulatus, higher medical education, acute lobar pneumonia, New York, William Wickham, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A well-written biography... [and] a good read... It is basically the background of modern medicine in the United States. It explains the curriculum that physicians encountered in medical school. Most importantly, this 50-year old gem does it with style." -- Maryland Medical Journal

Product Description

Welch won international fame as an authority on medical issues during American medicine's "heroic age", when medical training and practice underwent revolutionary change. This book was originally published in 1941, by which time Welch had set the standards in American medical education.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 568 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801845017
• ISBN-13: 978-0801845017
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #881,540 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read for historical appreciation but not for excitement, December 28, 2003

By	Steve Meyer (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This is a classic in the history of medicine. It is laboriously written and rather detailed, but it captures much of the person of Welch and of the culture that existed in American medicine at the turn of the century. To someone with minimal medical background, this tome is probably dull. To me, after years of medical schooling and practice, this book is an inspiring revelation of the transition of medical education and medical care from centuries of alchemy to the scientific discoveries that now form the basis of medicine. The person of Welch looms very large indeed over the present system of medical eduation and research, but I never would have appreciated the depth of his contributions without reading this book. A must for anyone interested in the history of American medicine.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very comprehensive account of a distinguished American., March 28, 2000

By	Justin S Wong (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

Simon Flexner portrays William Henry Welch as probably the biggest contributor in helping establish the backbone for medicine / pathology as we know it today. Simon Flexner was a very good friend of Welch's, and this source is one of the best secondary sources available to explore what is basically a patriotic American who helped his country in every single way (including the war) but did not get the fame or credit he deserved because to achieve all that this man had, he could not afford to concentrate on any one topic. This is a book which has enabled me to access what his most intermediate friends described him as, and not only was it a good source, but also an excellent read. If you want to know why American medicine really reached its pinnacle, this book is the answer.