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Against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this Very Short Introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times to the present. Focussing on the key turning points in the history of Western medicine, such as the advent of hospitals and the rise of experimental medicine, Bill Bynum offers insights into medicine's past, while at the same time engaging with contemporary issues, discoveries, and controversies. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
This book investigates the evolution of Western medicine from antiquity to the modern era, questioning how historical shifts in practice and philosophy have shaped current healthcare systems. William Bynum, a professor emeritus of the history of medicine at University College London, utilizes a chronological framework to examine the transition from ancient humoral theory to the rise of experimental science. He argues that medicine is not a linear progression of discovery, but a complex response to changing social, cultural, and technological environments.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers frequently cite this text as a concise, high-level primer suitable for students and general readers seeking a foundational understanding of medical history. The prose is noted for its accessibility despite the density of the historical information presented.
Page Count:
185
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
019160755X
ISBN-13:
9780191607554
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