The Greatest Benefit to Mankind: A Medical History of Humanity (The Norton History of Science)

Tucia managed another step forward. A tourniquet was needed, high on the arm, until she could assess the extent of the girl’s injury. A ligation, perhaps, judging from the pulsing splatter of blood. She’d need a blade in case she couldn’t find the end of the vessel after exploring the wound. A needle and thread. Cauterization might be necessary . .

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The Berlin press badgered the Prussian ruler, Frederick William IV, to do something about the disaster. Finally, the public outcry forced the government to form a commission of investigation, under the direction of the Privy Councillor for Health. Rudolf Virchow’s “strongest desire” was fulfilled when he was named medical officer to the commission.

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Sun Ssu-mo, the Tang Dynasty Taoist physician who correctly diagnosed and cured the nutritional-deficiency disease beriberi 1,300 years ago, a full millennium before European doctors did in 1642, wrote in Precious Recipes, A truly good physician first finds out the cause of the illness, and having found that, he first tries to cure it by food. Only

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Until the 20th century, wealthy households in China retained a well-known physician to be on constant call for the entire family, much as major corporations today retain renowned attorneys. The physician would visit the household regularly to check everyone’s health, dispense preventive advice and formulas, check on diets and personal habits, and g

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