The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction

• Assesses the origins and development of medicine in ancient times, through the scholastic medieval tradition and the Enlightenment, to the present day
• Takes a thematic approach, as each chapter introduces a new turning point in medical history, be it the advent of hospitals or the rise of experimental medicine
• Sheds a historical light on contemporary medical concerns and controversies
• Focuses on Western medicine, but also explores its encounters with alternative traditions such as Chinese and Indian medicine, and modern complementary medicine

Readership: General readers and students interested in the history of science and the history of medicine. Also medical students and professionals.

William Bynum, Professor Emeritus of the History of Medicine at University College, London

Preface
1: Bedside Medicine
2: Library Medicine
3: Hospital Medicine
4: Social Medicine
5: Laboratory Medicine
6: Technological Medicine
References and Further Reading