The Etruscans and the History of Dentistry offers a study of the construction and use of gold dental appliances in ancient Etruscan culture, and their place within the framework of a general history of dentistry, with special emphasis on appliances, from Bronze Age Mesopotamia and Egypt to modern Europe and the Americas. Included are many of the ancient literary sources that refer to dentistry - or the lack thereof - in Greece and Rome, as well as the archaeological evidence of ancient dental health. The book challenges many past works in exposing modern scholars’ fallacies about ancient dentistry, while presenting the incontrovertible evidence of the Etruscans’ seemingly modern attitudes to cosmetic dentistry.

An “entertaining history” of the practice of dentistry that will remind you how lucky you are to live in the modern era (Publishers Weekly). For those on both sides of the dreaded dentist’s chair, James Wynbrandt has written a witty, colorful, and richly informative history of the art and science of dentistry. To all of those dental patients whose whine rises in tandem with that of the drill, take note: You would do well to stifle your terror and instead offer thanks to Apollonia, the patron saint of toothache sufferers, that you face only fleeting discomfort rather than the disfiguring distress or slow agonizing death oft meted out by dental-care providers of the past. The transition from yesterday’s ignorance, misapprehension, and superstition to the enlightened and nerve-deadened protocols of today has been a long, slow, and very painful process—as shown by such facts as: *Among the toothache remedies favored by Pierre Fauchard, the father of dentistry, was rinsing the mouth liberally with one’s own urine. *George Washington never had wooden teeth. However, his chronic dental problems may have impacted the outcome of the American Revolution. *Soldiers in the Civil War needed at least two opposing front teeth to rip open powder envelopes. Some men had their front teeth extracted to avoid service. *Teeth were harvested from as many as fifty thousand corpses after the Battle of Waterloo, a huge crop later used for dentures and transplants that became known as “Waterloo Teeth.” “You’ll gain a great deal of dental knowledge, acquired quite painlessly.” —The New York Times Book Review “Just the thing you need to get through your next oral probing.” —Entertainment Weekly “A breezy romp . . . While sensitive dentists may wince at having their profession’s rough-and-tumble past revealed, dental patients are more likely to feel relief at having been born in the modern era of dentistry. Both groups are in for a good laugh.” —Kirkus Reviews

The book "Old-Time Maker, Medicine" is a tremendous contribution to the history of pioneers, practice, and medical thought. James J. Walsh offers a comprehensive evaluation of exactly how medicine has evolved due to personal genius and the wider cultural, political, and intellectual current of the period. A more complete historical context specific to this work: Historical Context for "Old-Time Makers of Medicine" Ancient Foundations: Spiritual and religious views were strongly associated in ancient civilizations through medicine. Egyptians, Greeks, and the Mesopotamians combined divinity and health, assuming that diseases had been both natural functions in addition to divine punishments. The Greeks especially started emphasizing the significance of natural reasons for diseases. This marked a major advancement from blaming illnesses exclusively on the whims of god. Interplay of Civilizations: The Roman Empire had a huge expanse and absorbed and gathered medical knowledge from each one of the territories it conquered, including Greece. The outcome was a rich tapestry of practical yet profoundly Greek - rational medical thought. As Europe entered the Dark Ages post the fall of the Roman Empire, the torchbearers of medical and scientific knowledge had been the Islamic civilizations. They not only preserved Greek and Roman sources but also expanded on them, creating complete medical works. The Church and medieval Europe: Europe experienced upheavals and invasion throughout the early medieval period. The Church was a significant preserver of knowledge throughout turbulent times. The monasteries served as sites of repose and study for old texts. Universities appeared in Europe as stability resurfaced with time. The foundations for formal medical education were laid by these institutions while they routinely studied medicine. Renaissance - A Rebirth: Art, science, and thought experienced a rebirth throughout the Renaissance. A return to classical sources entails re - reading ancient Greek and Roman texts. This period also saw challenges to traditional thoughts. The universal acceptance of Galenic medicine was disputed and oftentimes denied, particularly with the growth of exact anatomical studies. Cultural and Intellectual Currents: Medicine wasn't restricted to managing ailments during these times. The society's wider intellectual currents were reflected in it. Each period had a taste which shaped medical thought, whether it had been the philosophical view of the Greeks, the pragmatic stance of the Romans, the scientific pursuits of the Islamic Golden Age or the humanistic tendencies of Renaissance.

The COVID-19 pandemic provides stark evidence of the importance of medicine on a global scale. However, revisiting the influenza pandemic of 1918 provided a perspective as we searched for a viable vaccine and instituted public health measures. This shows that medical knowledge is an accumulative process extending to the past and it is in the spirit of that legacy that this bibliography has been compiled. The book is a one-stop resource that cites literature related to the historical aspects of medicine. It also acknowledges medicine’s global reach and devotes significant effort in that respect. Although the online world seems to dominate on both a social and educational level, there is still a need for thoughtfully curated and focused reference works and this bibliography accomplishes that goal. The book has 9,000+ citations. It utilizes the WHO's International classification of Diseases for the section on diseases and disorders and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's Product Code Classification Database for the section on medical devices, equipment, and instruments. It includes detailed subject, geographuc, and people indexes for an easy reference.