Autobiography of Jack Dreyfus, his battle with depression, its treatment with Dilantin (clinical name: Phenytoin, or Diphenylhydantoin), and his efforts to publicize the use of phenytoin to effectively treat depression, anger, behavior disorders, and a variety of other medical applications and treatments.

A fast-paced, medical-historical mystery, filled with twists and turns.-Chicago Tribune

A startling narrative revealing the impressive medical and surgical advances that quickly developed as solutions to the horrors unleashed by World War I. The Great War of 1914-1918 burst on the European scene with a brutality to mankind not yet witnessed by the civilized world. Modern warfare was no longer the stuff of chivalry and honor; it was a mutilative, deadly, and humbling exercise to wipe out the very presence of humanity. Suddenly, thousands upon thousands of maimed, beaten, and bleeding men surged into aid stations and hospitals with injuries unimaginable in their scope and destruction. Doctors scrambled to find some way to salvage not only life but limb. The Great War and the Birth of Modern Medicine provides a startling and graphic account of the efforts of teams of doctors and researchers to quickly develop medical and surgical solutions. Those problems of gas gangrene, hemorrhagic shock, gas poisoning, brain trauma, facial disfigurement, broken bones, and broken spirits flooded hospital beds, stressing caregivers and prompting medical innovations that would last far beyond the Armistice of 1918 and would eventually provide the backbone of modern medical therapy. Thomas Helling’s description of events that shaped refinements of medical care is a riveting account of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of men and women to deter the total destruction of the human body and human mind. His tales of surgical daring, industrial collaboration, scientific discovery, and utter compassion provide an understanding of the horror that laid a foundation for the medical wonders of today. The marvels of resuscitation, blood transfusion, brain surgery, X-rays, and bone setting all had their beginnings on the battlefields of France. The influenza contagion in 1918 was an ominous forerunner of the frightening pandemic of 2020-2021. For anyone curious about the true terrors of war and the miracles of modern medicine, this is a must read.

Argues that the pace of medical discoveries has slowed in the last twenty-five years due to excessive emphasis on the social and political aspects of health care, and to controversies caused by ethical issues.

Doctors and patients alike trust the medical profession and its therapeutic powers; yet this trust has often been misplaced. Whether prescribing opium or thalidomide, aspirin or antidepressants, doctors have persistently failed to test their favourite ideas - often with catastrophic results. From revolutionary America to Nazi Germany and modern big-pharmaceuticals, this is the unexpected story of just how bad medicine has been, and of its remarkably recent effort to improve. It is the history of well-meaning doctors misled by intuition, of the startling human cost of their mistakes and of the exceptional individuals who have helped make things better. Alarming and optimistic, Taking the Medicine is essential reading for anyone interested in how and why to trust the pills they swallow.

In 1675, Antony van Leeuwenhoek, an unlearned haberdasher from Delft, placed a drop of rainwater under his microscope and detected thousands of tiny animals in it. Leeuwenhoek proceeded to examine the microscopic activity of his spittle, teeth plaque, and feces, and as the result of his findings the field of bacteriology was born. Some two hundred years later, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Wurzburg, invited his wife to his laboratory, asked her to place her hand on an unexposed photographic plate, turned on an electric current, and showed this terrified woman a picture of the bones of her hand. And so came the discovery of the X-ray. This absorbing book is the first to describe these and eight other monumental medical discoveries throughout history, bringing to life the scientific pioneers responsible for them and the excitement, frustrations, and jealousies that surrounded the final achievements. Two distinguished physicians, Meyer Friedman and Gerald W. Friedland, have drawn on their many years of experience as well as on that of world-renowned antiquarian book dealers, physician collectors of old and new medical publications, and medical school professors to single out these medical breakthroughs from thousands of candidates, and, in several cases, to provide information never before available. Their engrossing stories of the ten most significant discoveries will be read with enjoyment by anyone fascinated by the mysteries of medicine.

Learn about astonishing medical breakthroughs and discoveries in The Medicine Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Medicine in this overview guide to the subject, great for novices looking to find out more and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Medicine Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Medicine, with: - More than 100 ground-breaking ideas in this field of science - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Medicine Book is a captivating introduction to the crucial breakthroughs in this science, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you’ll discover more than 90 amazing medical discoveries through exciting text and bold graphics. Your Medical Questions, Simply Explained This fresh new guide explores the discoveries that have shaped our modern-day understanding of medicine and helped us protect and promote our health. If you thought it was difficult to learn about the important milestones in medical history The Medicine Book presents key information in an easy to follow layout. Learn about medical science’s response to new challenges - such as COVID-19, and ancient practices like herbal medicine and balancing the humors - through superb mind maps and step-by-step summaries. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Medicine Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.

From ancient herbal remedies to modern drugs, the field of medicine has evolved dramatically over many centuries. Medicine takes you through the ages of human history and uncovers the greatest medical breakthroughs, with incredible coverage of disease, drugs, treatment, and cures. Turn the richly illustrated pages replete with compelling stories to learn all about the gory pitfalls and miraculous successes of medical history - from trepanning, bloodletting, and body snatching to brand new developments in IVF and gene therapy. Clear diagrams explain major diseases such as cancer, and trace the progression of medical treatment through time, from ancient healing arts to scurvy and smallpox, and the World Wars to modern psychiatry. Double-page features on key scientists and researchers offer unique insight into their lives, experiments, and motivations. Perfect for adults, students, and anyone interested in the fascinating medical history of the world, Medicine is the definitive visual history of our health.

Immerse yourself in the history of medicine – a colorful story of skill, serendipity, trial and error, moments of genius, and dogged determination. From traditional Chinese medicine to today’s sophisticated gene therapies and robotic surgery, A Short History of Medicine combines riveting storytelling and beautiful images, historical accounts and lucid explanations, to illuminate the story of medicine through time. Witness early, bloody, anesthetic-free operations; see the first crude surgical instruments; trace the mapping of the circulatory system; follow the painstaking detective work that led to the decoding of the human genome; and understand the role that potions, cures, therapies, herbal medicines, and drugs have played in the human quest to tame and conquer disease, injury, and death. Dive deep into this magnificent medicine book to discover: - Vivid, compelling, and informative reads written in an engaging and colorful style - Excerpts from documents, diaries, and notebooks offer fascinating eyewitness accounts. - Charts and contextualizes the great milestones of medical history. A Short History of Medicine is a fascinating illustrated history and tale of drama and discovery that celebrates the milestones of medical history across generations and cultures. From eradicating smallpox to the early anesthetics, the very first transplants to the genetic code, this groundbreaking guide to the history of medicine has something for everyone to explore, learn and discover. Ideal for adults and young adults alike, whether you have a keen interest in medicine, science or social history, this all-encompassing medicine book is sure to quench your thirst for knowledge!

Today we live longer, healthier lives than ever before in history—a transformation due almost entirely to tremendous advances in medicine. This change is so profound, with many major illnesses nearly wiped out, that its hard now to imagine what the world was like in 1851, when the New York Times began publishing. Treatments for depression, blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, and diabetes came later; antibiotics were nonexistent, viruses unheard of, and no one realized yet that DNA carried blueprints for life or the importance of stem cells. Edited by award-winning writer Gina Kolata, this eye-opening collection of 150 articles from the New York Times archive charts the developing scientific insights and breakthroughs into diagnosing and treating conditions like typhoid, tuberculosis, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers, and AIDS, and chronicles the struggles to treat mental illness and the enormous success of vaccines. It also reveals medical mistakes, lapses in ethics, and wrong paths taken in hopes of curing disease. Every illness, every landmark has a tale, and the newspapers top reporters tell each one with perceptiveness and skill.