Medical History for Students

Medical Historyfor Students, by JOHN R. GREEN, Springfield, Illinois, C. C. Thomas, 1968, pp. ix, 197, illus., $9.75. This book, based upon the author's lecture syllabus, has been written for the express purpose of introducing the student to an outline of medical history from the earliest times until the present day. Controversial discussion would therefore be out of place. The subject is treated both chronologically and geographically. All the more important facts are presented in an interesting narrative form. This, itself, is something of a feat in a work which consists of only one hundred and eighty pages of fairly large print. There is a very full index and a useful list of books for further reading. The book ends with a brief, rather superficial survey of patterns of medical progress in various countries since the Second World War. British readers will find little cause for complacency in the short and apposite section accorded to Great Britain. Many will agree that the author has hit the nail squarely upon the head. One or two minor criticisms must be made. A short account of the Black Death contains the absurdity 'the total number of victims was estimated to be 42,836,486 persons'. The use of gothic script in chapter headings, scroll-like maps, and an imitation parchment paper gives an unfortunate impression of 'ye olde worlde' which is quite out of place in a serious history of medicine-particularly one which is primarily aimed at medical students. It is to be hoped that this ill-considered format will be changed in the next edition. For this is a book which deserves wide popularity and a long life. It can be confidently recommended as a simple, interesting, and accurate survey. A copy should certainly be in every medical school library. F. F. CARTWRIGHT