Skip to content

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages Paperback - 2013 - 1st Edition

by Nathan Belofsky


Summary

Strange Medicine casts a gimlet eye on the practice of medicine through the ages that highlights the most dubious ideas, bizarre treatments, and biggest blunders. From bad science and oafish behavior to stomach-turning procedures that hurt more than helped, Strange Medicine presents strange but true facts and an honor roll of doctors, scientists, and dreamers who inadvertently turned the clock of medicine backward:

• The ancient Egyptians applied electric eels to cure gout.
• Medieval dentists burned candles in patients’ mouths to kill invisible worms gnawing at their teeth.
• Renaissance physicians timed surgical procedures according to the position of the stars, and instructed epileptics to collect fresh blood from the newly beheaded.
• Dr. Walter Freeman, the world’s foremost practitioner of lobotomies, practiced his craft while traveling on family camping trips, cramming the back of the station wagon with kids—and surgical tools—then hammering ice picks into the eye sockets of his patients in between hikes in the woods.

Strange Medicine is an illuminating panorama of medical history as you’ve never seen it before.

From the publisher

Nathan Belofsky is the author of The Book of Strange and Curious Legal Oddities, which has been featured in the New Yorker and on Salon. He lives in Manhattan.

Details

  • Title Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
  • Author Nathan Belofsky
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition number 1st
  • Edition 1
  • Pages 224
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Tarcherperigee, NY USA
  • Date 2013-07-02
  • Features Bibliography, Index, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780399159954 / 0399159959
  • Weight 0.35 lbs (0.16 kg)
  • Dimensions 8 x 4.4 x 0.7 in (20.32 x 11.18 x 1.78 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Library of Congress subjects Medicine - History, Traditional medicine - History
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2013007162
  • Dewey Decimal Code 910.9

Media reviews

Citations

  • Booklist, 07/01/2013, Page 16
  • Publishers Weekly, 05/13/2013, Page 0

About the author

Nathan Belofsky is the author of The Book of Strange and Curious Legal Oddities, which has been featured in the New Yorker and on Salon. He lives in Manhattan.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$12.09
CA$5.46 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Perigee Books, 07/02/2013. Mass Market. Used - Good. Used - good condition. For mass produced books with multiple editions the book on hand may not be edition listed. Please reach out with any questions about condition or edition.
Item Price
CA$12.09
CA$5.46 shipping to USA
Strange Medicine : A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

Strange Medicine : A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Nathan Belofsky

  • Used
  • Good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$12.25
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2013. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
CA$12.25
FREE shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • New
Condition
New
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
5
Seller
Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$12.28
CA$5.51 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
TarcherPerigee. New. BRAND NEW, GIFT QUALITY! NOT OVERSTOCKS OR MARKED UP REMAINDERS! DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER!
Item Price
CA$12.28
CA$5.51 shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
749
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$13.33
CA$5.51 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
TarcherPerigee, 2013-07-02. Paperback. New.
Item Price
CA$13.33
CA$5.51 shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Nathan Belofsky

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$13.75
CA$6.22 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Tarcherperigee, 2013. Paperback. New. New softcover in printed wraps. Text is clean and free of marks or underlining. Includes bibliography and index. 213 pp. Fast shipping in a secure book box mailer with tracking. Strange Medicine casts a gimlet eye on the practice of medicine through the ages that highlights the most dubious ideas, bizarre treatments, and biggest blunders. From bad science and oafish behavior to stomach-turning procedures that hurt more than helped, Strange Medicine presents strange but true facts and an honor roll of doctors, scientists, and dreamers who inadvertently turned the clock of medicine backward: - The ancient Egyptians applied electric eels to cure gout. - Medieval dentists burned candles in patients' mouths to kill invisible worms gnawing at their teeth. - Renaissance physicians timed surgical procedures according to the position of the stars, and instructed epileptics to collect fresh blood from the newly beheaded. - Dr. Walter Freeman, the world's foremost… Read More
Item Price
CA$13.75
CA$6.22 shipping to USA
Strange Medicine : A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine : A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$14.41
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
CA$14.41
FREE shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used: Good
Edition
1
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$18.87
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
TarcherPerigee, 2013-07-02. 1. paperback. Used: Good.
Item Price
CA$18.87
FREE shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. Minor shelf wear
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. signs of little wear on the cover.
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA
Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Strange Medicine: A Shocking History of Real Medical Practices Through the Ages

by Belofsky, Nathan

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780399159954 / 0399159959
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. signs of little wear on the cover.
Item Price
CA$22.88
FREE shipping to USA