Cures Out Of Chaos

by M. Lawrence Podolsky

Overview

This book describes the most important advances in modern medicine. It starts with the introduction of the first antibiotic to the present, where serendipity, intuition, coincidence, or laboratory accident played an important role in bringing a discovery to light.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789057025563
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/17/1998
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

1. Dyes and Destiny 2. A Lesson from "The Wizard of Oz" 3. Elegy for a Planet 4. Afflictions of Affluence 5. Too Much of a Good Thing 6. Foresight, Nearsight and Insight 7. Captain of the Men of Death 8. The Oxford Incidents 9. Orphans and Their Relatives 10. Janus and the Cancer Connection 11. Concept Out of Chaos 12. Bing, Bang and Levin and the Horseshoe Crab 13. Mighty like a Rose 14. Backyard Full of Diamonds

Editorial Reviews

This book describes the incredible discoveries of not just one but many of the most important advances in modern medicine. The individual stories read like a mystery novel. But unlike mystery stories, they are relevant not only to one person or one place, but to all of mankind. These discoveries are not only very important; they are also great fun to read.

Daniel E. Kosland

I found the material eminently readable, engagingly written and the subject fascinating....Not only are the individual paths followed...exciting, the book's central theme is broader than encompassed by medicine. It extends to virtually all of man's creativity. Finally, in addition to tracing scientific developments, he [Podolsky] adds a dimension too often overlooked by science history writers-he interrelates the lives and personalities of the researchers behind many of the discoveries, and makes this book far more than a collection of significant scientific breakthroughs.

Jerome G. Morse

The book does have appealing features in addition to some fascinating and underappreciated tales.... Another pleasure is the liberal use of quotations from observers ranging from Euripides to Joseph Priestly, Claude Bernard, and Julius Comroe.... This book documents the perennial challenges of medical research: discrimination against women and scientists from minority groups, the intrusion of corporate interests into research and publication, inadequate equipment and space, and the inability to see patterns, cause, and effect. Fortunately, cures come, knowledge grows, and authors have the curiosity and diligence to look back at history and to describe the past so we can learn from it.

New England Journal of Medicine