Murder, Magic, and Medicine

by John Mann

This absorbing account of the evolution of modern medicine from its roots in folk medicine will entertain and inform both scientist and general reader alike. It explains the chemical basis of pharmacology, and provides a fascinating description of how the use and abuse of natural products in various societies throughout the ages has led to the development of many of the drugs we now take for granted.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Medicine, History

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Lukman Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very early on Mann states the adrenal glands are atop the liver. This seems a pretty significant anatomy error for someone writing how chemicals affect the body. Even stranger is no one at OEP caught this. Some of his anthropological assumptions about "primitive" vs. settled humans seem quaintly out of date, too.

[Desertorum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read! Needs a little bit of biology if you want to understand it thoroughly.