Medical Lore: Stories of the Dark History, Forgotten Failures, and Strange Successes of Medicine

Medical Lore: Stories of the Dark History, Forgotten Failures, and Strange Successes of Medicine is a sharp and unforgettable tour of medicine's darkest mistakes and strangest triumphs. The doctor mocked to death for suggesting his colleagues wash their hands. The Nobel Prize awarded for the lobotomy. The women who painted with radioactive poison. The dancing plague that emptied a medieval town. The surgeon who pulled his patients' teeth to cure their madness. The wandering womb that haunted women for two thousand years. And many more.The stories in these pages are more than a collection of curiosities; they are a vital reminder that tomorrow's cautionary tale is already hiding in plain sight, masquerading as today's standard of care. This book is a tribute to the pioneers who faced ridicule to speak the truth and a sobering warning that science is never settled. Read more