The History of Medicine: Medicine in the Twentieth Century and Beyond
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Written by Alex Woolf
64 pages |
About the Book
The 20th century was a time of profound change both in science and society. Improvements in transportation and communications technology made the world smaller. Scientists split the atom, harnessed radio waves, developed nuclear power and the microchip, and sent astronauts into space. At the same time society became increasingly more urban and cosmopolitan, with more people enjoying the benefits of wealth than ever before. On the other hand, world wars, genocide, famines and epidemics killed more people than in any previous century. Still, thanks to scientific advances and technological developments people witnessed significant improvements in physical health and well-being. In 2000 the average person lived nearly 30 years longer than his or her counterpart at the start of the century. So what were the advances that occurred in medicine and how did they come about? Medicine in the Twentieth Century and Beyond answers this large and wide-ranging question in a balanced and richly informative way, while handling the thorny ethical debates around stem cell research, gene therapy and cloning with sensitivity. Moreover, the differences between healthcare options in developed and underdeveloped countries are discussed in such a way that the global implications of these differences can be understood. Finally, the spread of new diseases in an ever more interconnected and polluted world is discussed as a highly dangerous reality that yet can bring with it rich possibilities for global cooperation in the the scientific, medical and public health communities.
Includes a glossary, timeline, further information section and index.
Awards and Reviews
“What do the Canterbury Tales, cholera, and Christianity all have in common? These are among the topics found in the excellent new series, The History of Medicine. These books support the National Science Education Standards on ‘The History and Nature of Science’ and help students understand that science is a human endeavor.” – NSTA Recommends
“I recommend the set for middle school libraries.” – Science Books & Films
