The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth
And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine
By Thomas Morris | Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
About the book
\"Delightfully horrifying.\"--Popular Science
This wryly humorous collection of stories about bizarre medical treatments and cases offers a unique portrait of a bygone era in all its jaw-dropping weirdness.
A puzzling series of dental explosions beginning in the nineteenth century is just one of many strange tales that have long lain undiscovered in the pages of old medical journals. Award-winning medical historian Thomas Morris delivers one of the most remarkable, cringe-inducing collections of stories ever assembled. Witness Mysterious Illnesses (such as the Rhode Island woman who peed through her nose), Horrifying Operations (1781: A French soldier in India operates on his own bladder stone), Tall Tales (like the \"amphibious infant\" of Chicago, a baby that could apparently swim underwater for half an hour), Unfortunate Predicaments (such as that of the boy who honked like a goose after inhaling a bird's larynx), and a plethora of other marvels.
Beyond a series of anecdotes, these painfully amusing stories reveal a great deal about the evolution of modern medicine. Some show the medical profession hopeless in the face of ailments that today would be quickly banished by modern drugs; but others are heartening tales of recovery against the odds, patients saved from death by the devotion or ingenuity of a conscientious doctor.
However embarrassing the ailment or ludicrous the treatment, every case in The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth tells us something about the knowledge (and ignorance) of an earlier age, along with the sheer resilience of human life.
Editions of The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781524743680
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781524743703
- EBook
- ISBN 9781524743697
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780525642176
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780525642183
Read an Excerpt
\"Delightfully horrifying.\"--Popular Science
This wryly humorous collection of stories about bizarre medical treatments and cases offers a unique portrait of a bygone era in all its jaw-dropping weirdness.
A puzzling series of dental explosions beginning in the nineteenth century is just one of many strange tales that have long lain undiscovered in the pages of old medical journals. Award-winning medical historian Thomas Morris delivers one of the most remarkable, cringe-inducing collections of stories ever assembled. Witness Mysterious Illnesses (such as the Rhode Island woman who peed through her nose), Horrifying Operations (1781: A French soldier in India operates on his own bladder stone), Tall Tales (like the \"amphibious infant\" of Chicago, a baby that could apparently swim underwater for half an hour), Unfortunate Predicaments (such as that of the boy who honked like a goose after inhaling a bird's larynx), and a plethora of other marvels.
Beyond a series of anecdotes, these painfully amusing stories reveal a great deal about the evolution of modern medicine. Some show the medical profession hopeless in the face of ailments that today would be quickly banished by modern drugs; but others are heartening tales of recovery against the odds, patients saved from death by the devotion or ingenuity of a conscientious doctor.
However embarrassing the ailment or ludicrous the treatment, every case in The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth tells us something about the knowledge (and ignorance) of an earlier age, along with the sheer resilience of human life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth about?
\"Delightfully horrifying.\"--Popular Science
This wryly humorous collection of stories about bizarre medical treatments and cases offers a unique portrait of a bygone era in all its jaw-dropping weirdness.
A puzzling series of dental explosions beginning in the nineteenth century is just one of many strange tales that have long lain undiscovered in the pages of old medical journals. Award-winning medical historian Thomas Morris delivers one of the most remarkable, cringe-inducing collections of stories ever assembled. Witness Mysterious Illnesses (such as the Rhode Island woman who peed through her nose), Horrifying Operations (1781: A French soldier in India operates on his own bladder stone), Tall Tales (like the \"amphibious infant\" of Chicago, a baby that could apparently swim underwater for half an hour), Unfortunate Predicaments (such as that of the boy who honked like a goose after inhaling a bird's larynx), and a plethora of other marvels.
Beyond a series of anecdotes, these painfully amusing stories reveal a great deal about the evolution of modern medicine. Some show the medical profession hopeless in the face of ailments that today would be quickly banished by modern drugs; but others are heartening tales of recovery against the odds, patients saved from death by the devotion or ingenuity of a conscientious doctor.
However embarrassing the ailment or ludicrous the treatment, every case in The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth tells us something about the knowledge (and ignorance) of an earlier age, along with the sheer resilience of human life.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth?
Medicine and Nursing > Medicine / Healthcare: general issues / topics > History of medicine
Where can I read a sample of The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781524743680
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth?
Thomas Morris
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781524743680) and paperback(ISBN 9781524743703) and ebook(ISBN 9781524743697) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780525642176) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780525642183)
Where can I buy The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth?