Preface

The purpose of this book is to provide medical students and others interested in the history of medicine, a well referenced, readable resource, which succinctly describes the evolution of medical knowledge from 3500 BC to present day. This book offers an opportunity to systematically follow in chronological order, major discoveries, major events, influential people, and institutions most responsible for moving medical knowledge forward or impeding its forward progress. The book is organized into 10 conventional disciplines, typically studied by medical students during their first two years of medical school; histology, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, behavioral sciences, neurosciences, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and pathology. Given scientific and medical knowledge is dynamic and changes with time, this book offers an opportunity to understand the evolution of how and why we have come to our present state of scientific and medical knowledge. Additionally, this book dispels common myths and corrects much misinformation which has become a part of the general public’s and many medical students’ knowledge about the history of medicine.

Much effort has been committed to ensuring the accuracy of information contained in this book. I am solely responsible for the accuracy of all information. I used primary sources whenever available, located and read original articles of historical significance, had many articles translated from their original languages into English, and relied heavily upon electronic information available from scholarly sources, accessed from around the world by way of computer based electronic media. Considerable time and efforts were made to discover the true history, rather than rely upon secondary sources or others’ synthesis of information. Many books currently available in the market, on the history of medicine, rely heavily upon secondary and tertiary sources. This book relies almost exclusively on original, primary sources and offers over 2,700 primary reference sources. The process of investigation, synthesis, and preparation of this manuscript was completed over a 15 year period, with much attention placed upon ensuring the highest of quality and scholarly standards.

As a medical student and future physician your time is in high demand. Select a chapter or chapters that are of the most interest to you. Begin there. Chapters have been written to stand alone. It is not necessary to read the entire book from beginning to end. Initially read the sections which hold the most interest for you. I image you will return frequently, using this book as a reference, to more fully understand the history of the materials you are learning in your medical school courses. When you have a brief moment of free time, randomly read a few paragraphs or pages. You might be surprised how much information you will retain over the course of a busy semester.

As a medical student, take this opportunity to think about how and why our medical knowledge is what it is today. Be open to new ideas. Be willing to challenge medical dogma. Be open to and willing to change your thinking in the presence of new information. Acknowledge facts change. Be willing to propose new, thoughtful, and innovative alternatives to existing knowledge and practices. Do not blindly accept or uncritically embrace medical dogma. Be willing to think independently and for yourself. Be willing to lead rather than follow. These are exciting times in medicine. I encourage you to embrace all of its experiences and opportunities. Do consider making a difference, now as a medical student and throughout your professional medical career, as a practicing physician. Knowing the history of medicine will make you a more knowledgeable physician and will allow you to more fully appreciate the efforts of those whom have come before you and those whom will come after you, as the history of medicine continues to be written.

WJK