Gabrielle M Finn - 30-Second Medicine

The 50 crucial milestones, treatments and technologies in the history of health, each explained in half a minute

Editor

Gabrielle M. Finn

Contributors

Philip Cox

Laura Fitton

Joanna Matthan

Larissa Nelson

Martin Veysey

Illustrations

Steve Rawlings

First published in UK in 2017 by

Ivy Press

Ovest House

58 West Street Brighton BN1 2RA United Kingdom

www.quartoknows.com

Copyright The Ivy Press Limited 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage-and-retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright holder.

British Library Cataloguing-in- Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Digital edition: 978-1-78240-540-5
Hardcover edition: 978-1-78240-455-2

This book was conceived, designed and produced by

Ivy Press

Publisher Susan Kelly

Creative Director Michael Whitehead

Editorial Director Tom Kitch

Commissioning Editor Sophie Collins

Senior Project Editor Caroline Earle

Designer Ginny Zeal

Picture Researcher Katie Greenwood

Glossaries Text Gabrielle M. Finn

Cover image: Freestock.ca/Nicolas Raymond (2nd left)

Gabrielle M. Finn

Medicine is the science of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Its history is steeped in gore, antiquity and pioneering discovery from the rituals of early medicine and the musings of Leonardo da Vinci, to modern-day advances in cloning and bionics. This book is aimed at presenting some of the most interesting topics in medicine as easy-to-swallow pills that wont stick in the throat of the reader. Well explore some of the early providers of medical care, such as shamans and witch doctors and end with pioneering advancements, including artificial limbs and laboratory-grown organs.

How medicine is encountered by individuals is determined by their culture and health status whether it be homeopathy and Chinese traditional medicines or radiotherapy and surgery. That said, the language of medicine is commonplace in everyday culture. Diseases and drugs are accepted sites on the biological landscape. Although many of us have well-stocked medicine cabinets in our bathrooms, frequently we dont truly understand the ailment nor the true purpose of the pill we are about to reach for. This is something we hope to change once you have read this book.

Medicine has evolved at a phenomenal rate the technologies and treatments now utilized on a daily basis, such as dialysis and radiotherapy, would not so long ago have been regarded as the content of a science fiction movie. Imagine where medicine could be within the next decade or century. If we can engineer bionic limbs and conduct surgery using robots now what is next?

Without using technical language, we will demystify a range of treatments including cochlear implants to restore hearing, bionic limbs controlled by the patient, and organ donation. Youll become an expert on imaging, from X-rays to MRI, ultrasound to CT scans, and, well tell you all you need to know about treatments such as chemotherapy and preventative medicine, including vaccinations and contraception.

The observations of the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates laid the foundations of modern medicine.

Medicine is a fascinating yet complex subject. It covers a plethora of topics including the anatomy of the body, surgery, therapies, treatments, drugs and diseases, to name but a few. To chronicle the history of medicine within one book would be quite a feat, instead, I have chosen topics that demonstrate the origins of medicine, milestones in treatments and explain some of the most commonly encountered diseases and treatments.

How this book works

This book wont answer your every question but it is hoped that it will spark your interest to read further. Its structure is simple you can start anywhere. Fifty topics are presented, each is succinct and can be read in isolation, or you may wish to read a chapter at a time. The topics present a quick overview in the 3-second dose, the bulk of the topic is covered in the succinct 30-second medicine section followed by additional interesting information within the 3-minute treatment.

A team of scientists and medics have crafted a journey for you through medical history avoiding jargon and presenting a concise crash course. Our journey starts with Early & Non-Traditional Medicine where we consider the roots of medicine in folklore and ancient traditions. Moving forward we consider Landmark Advances where we explore some of the biggest and most renowned advances in medical history. Within Imaging & Technology we look at the mechanisms available to sneak a peek below the surface of the body to discover what lurks beneath. Once we have used imaging to discover the mechanics, we move on to explore the array of Treatments, Therapies & Procedures available to patients. Within the chapter on Diseases we discover how different conditions present and their associated symptoms, treatments and prognoses. The medical team is ever expanding, and within the Roles in Medicine chapter we learn about the responsibilities of key members of a medical team that a patient would commonly encounter. Our journey terminates with Drugs where we study how a range of drugs work, from those in the bathroom cabinet to some with a little more notoriety. Interspersed within each chapter are biographical profiles of some eminent figures from medicine, each with a timeline of their lives and achievements.

Landmark advances such as Alexander Fleming's discovery of antibiotics revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections.

EARLY & NON-TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

EARLY & NON-TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
GLOSSARY

acupuncture A technique derived from ancient Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into specific sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes. It is classed as an alternative form of medicine.