Medicine through the Ages: From Acupuncture to Antibiotics
About this ebook
“I swear by Apollo the physician . . . and all the gods and goddesses, and call them to witness that . . . I will prescribe treatments to the best of my ability and judgement for the good of the sick, and never for a harmful or illicit purpose.”—Hippocratic oath excerpt, ca. 500s BCE
Modern humans have been around for about 300,000 years, and medical technology grew alongside them. Ancient civilizations developed advanced medical techniques and devices that helped improve and extend people’s lives. Early people learned which plants could help with issues such as pain and anxiety and developed ways to treat injuries such as bone fractures.
The first written records of medical technology come from Egypt, but ancient people around the world recorded medical treatments and theories. Over centuries, doctors developed different surgeries, remedies, early forms of vaccination, and even hospitals. Even though not every treatment worked, each attempt helped advance medical knowledge and practice.
From chew sticks to plastic surgery, discover ancient medical technology and find out how early medical innovation shaped modern medicine.
About the author
Michael Woods is a science and medical writer whose nationally syndicated newspaper stories and columns have won numerous national awards. He directs a program at the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, to inform the public about science. He and his wife, Mary B. Woods, have written almost forty books together. Michael is the writer, and Mary is the researcher.
Mary B. Woods is an elementary school librarian in the Fairfax County (VA) Public School system. She has presented at international librarians' conferences. Mary has worked with her husband, Michael Woods, to write almost forty books. She is the researcher, and Michael is the writer.
