People have always got sick so have always needed doctors. But while most doctors tried to help their patients sometimes their methods were weird disgusting or even dangerous. Yet this was how modern practices began.
Noses were rebuilt by attaching the skin from an arm
The first blood transfusion was between two dogs
The ancient Chinese immunized against smallpox with powered pus
If you're not too squeamish you'll see barbers doubling up as surgeons leeches drawing out blood and corpses being dug up so doctors could study anatomy - along with the first anaesthetics to remove pain one of medicine's great miracles.
This is Book 1 in the Grisly History of Medicine Series. See all Grisly History of Medicine books here.
See More Science & technology: general interest
See More History & the past: general interest
No one has written a review for 'Kill or Cure'
Why not be the first to share your opinion?
John Farndon is an author of exciting and accessible science books for children. His 'What Happens When?' was short-listed for the Rhone-Poulenc science prize in 1997. He has contributed to numerous science encyclopaedias. His book 'The Complete Book of the Brain' has been short-listed for 2001 Junior Aventis Prizes for Science Books.
More about John Farndon Jane Lacey (Author)
Jane Lacey was a primary school teacher for ten years before she became a full-time writer of non-fiction books for children between the ages of three and eleven.
Venitia Dean (Illustrator)
Venitia Dean is a freelance illustrator who grew up in Brighton. She has always loved drawing,
