book

The History of Medicine in Twelve Objects Hardcover

  • Writen by Carol Cooper
  • Publisher August Books
  • ISBN 9780711294622
  • Publication Date 2024

Discover the fascinating history of medicine from its primitive beginnings to the lifesaving technologies of today.

Award-winning author Dr Carol Cooper takes you on a journey through the 12 objects that have come to define medicine through the ages – from the barbaric and bizarre to the inventive and impressive, this captivating read is peppered with fascinating anecdotes.

In this unique history, you will discover how ill health has been with us for as long as humans have existed, as has the drive to treat and understand it. Over the course of centuries, the ways in which doctors have engaged with sickness has changed drastically, and so too have the tools at their disposal.

And as these tools have morphed and evolved, our knowledge of health and disease has expanded. Medical theories have slowly advanced, allowing people to live longer and healthier lives.

The 12 groundbreaking tools explored in this collection include:

THE TREPHINE
THE BONE SAW
THE MASK
THE MICROSCOPE
THE STETHOSCOPE
THE ETHER INHALER
THE HYPODERMIC SYRINGE
THE OBSTETRIC FORCEPS
THE X -RAY MACHINE
THE ECT MACHINE
THE HIP PROSTHESIS
THE HEART-LUNG MACHINE
 

The history of these medical tools is truly astounding, revealing the true extent of human ingenuity, curiosity, and compassion. This is a book for anyone interested in medical history or looking for a fresh and dynamic take on their specialist subject. With her immense knowledge and engaging writing style, Dr Cooper delivers a history that is not for the faint of heart.

Suggested Books


Bill Gates is one of the most transformative figures of our age. In Source Code he takes us back to his beginnings.

He describes with candour his childhood in Seattle, the centrality of family – his close relationship with his card-playing grandmother and his demanding but caring parents – his struggles to fit in, his rebelliousness, his first deep friendships and the impact of losing his closest friend.

We see Gates’s extraordinary mind developing, the restless teenager who discovered a love of coding and computing at the dawn of a new era and felt that ‘by applying my brain, I could solve even the world’s most complex mysteries’. We see the earliest signs of his phenomenal business acumen, which led him to drop out of Harvard at the age of 20 to devote all his energies to Microsoft, the company he started with his childhood friend Paul Allen. He writes about his first involvement with three Steves – Jobs, Wozniak and Ballmer – who would play a crucial role in so much that followed.

The book ends in the late 1970s when Microsoft, still with only a dozen employees, signed its first deal with Apple. The deals would go on and Microsoft would grow unimaginably. Yet Gates never forgot his mother’s reminder that he was merely a steward of any wealth that he gained. This warm and inspiring book, Bill Gates’ origin story, allows readers to understand his energy and ambition – and to see how he sets himself in the world.

An encyclopedic collection of children's questions answered by experts

Children ask the best questions – and this book has the answers!

This timeless encyclopedia covers children's favourite topics, all in a friendly, easy-to-read Q&A format, perfect to dip into and browse. If your child is always asking questions, from "how do aeroplanes fly?" to "why do tigers have stripes?" and "what's inside a black hole?", and everything in between, this is the book for them. Shaped by children's interests and their insatiable curiosity, this is a book that children will read again and again.

Alongside the children's questions and the expert answers are beautiful illustrations, photographs, and diagrams to bring every topic to life in rich detail and with perfect clarity. 1,000 Curious Questions is essential reading to encourage curious kids to keep questioning the world around them.

From bloodthirsty battles and rebellious revolutions, to curious coincidences and unfortunate accidents - 100 Events That Made History has it all!

Get ready for a historical rollercoaster ride as 100 Events That Made History brings the major moments of the past to life in an unforgettable way. Get the lowdown on events that have changed the course of history and shaped the modern world. Find out why Ivan became so terrible, why a sandwich was fatal for Archduke Ferdinand and more of history's key moments.

Incredible photography and colourful illustrations make 100 Events That Made History a perfect project helper for young history lovers.

TV's Paul Hollywood conveys his love of bread-making in this collection of fantastic recipes.

He reveals all the simple techniques you need to make this staple food and shows you that baking bread is far easier than you could possibly have imagined. 100 Great Breads features a wide range of recipes, from a basic brown and white loaf to savoury and sweet, Mediterranean, traditional and ancient breads.