Dr. Clendening, who was Professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Kansas, brings together in this work the most significant medical writings of 4,000 years. One hundred twenty-four papers by 120 authors are presented in chronological order, each with an introduction and short biography of its author. They cover almost every area of medical thought and practice — pathology, asepsis, preventive medicine, bacteriology, physiology, etc. — from the Egyptian Kahun Papyrus of 1900 B.C. to W. C. Roentgen's discovery of X-rays. Dr. Clendening has carefully selected the important sections of each paper, to save you reading time. Several of these works were specially translated for this collection.

This book will give anybody interested in medicine a view of his profession unequalled for its immediacy. He will witness the dramatic growth of knowledge and skills, with each advance announced by its originator, each great concept presented in its original form. The breadth of these writings alone makes this book unique. An additional feature is the inclusion of selections from non-medical literature, showing lay views of medicine at different ages. Here are accounts of Greek medicine by Aristophanes, Plato, and Thucydides; of Arabian medicine from the Arabian Nights; glimpses of contemporary medical life by Chaucer, Molière, Dickens, Thackeray, and others.
"A notable service . . . useful to teacher and student alike." — American Historical Review. "Every item is worthy of inclusion." — American Journal of Public Health.