The Evolution of Modern Medicine : A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Osler, William, Sir, 1849-1919

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Evolution of Modern Medicine" by Sir William Osler is a series of lectures delivered at Yale University in the early 20th century, specifically in the early 1910s. The work presents a comprehensive historical account of the development of medicine, tracing its evolution from primitive practices rooted in superstition and magic to the rational methods characteristic of modern science. Osler explores the contributions of various cultures and periods, emphasizing the importance of key figures and the slow, often tumultuous journey towards a more systematic understanding of medicine. At the start of the lectures, Osler sets the stage by discussing the origins of medicine, suggesting it arose from humanity's instinctual compassion for one another. He notes the transition from a world filled with magical beliefs and divine intervention to one where systematic observations and empirical practices begin to take precedence. The opening portion emphasizes how ancient civilizations, particularly those in Egypt and Babylon, shaped early medical practices while still being heavily influenced by superstition. Through poetic language and vivid imagery, Osler frames the history of medicine as not merely a progression of techniques but as a story woven with the threads of philosophy, ethics, and human experience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Origin of medicine

Greek medicine

Mediaeval medicine

The Renaissance and the rise of anatomy and physiology

The rise and development of modern medicine

The rise of preventive medicine.

Credits:

Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 55.0 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2006-02-22