Doc or Quack

Reachingfrom the beginnings of scientific medicine in the 19th century through to thepresent, Sander L. Gilman examines the ever-shifting boundary betweenscientific medicine and quackery, asking if such a fixed boundary canactually exist within mainstream medical practice. Through detailed casestudies – stomach ulcers, eye disease and acupuncture – it reveals theinfluence of pharmaceutical companies in determining the science of medicalpractice, the pros and cons of the increasing specialization in medicalpractice, and the murky issue of ‘race’ in scientific medicine.This readable account covers medical practice from the Enlightenment to thepresent, offering a realistic view of health politics in the US, Germany andthe UK. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in the history andpolitics of Western medicine.