Can you imagine a world where surgeries and amputations were conducted without anaesthesia?

OUCH!

Or one in which disease was believed to be caused by 'stinky air'?

WEIRD!

Or a world where treating madness involved drilling a hole through the skull to release the supposed 'demons' inside your head?

SAY WHAAAAA...?!

Guess what? That was our world, just about 250 years ago!

All of this began to change in the eighteenth century with the coming of modern medicine. This brave new science, full of brilliant breakthroughs, was built on the hard work, dedication and persistence of thousands of curious minds across the ages, from Arabia to China and India to Europe.

Packed with fascinating stories, insights and illustrations, this book is a celebration of 2,500 years of human endeavour and innovation in the medical sciences. Read it, and raise a rousing cheer to the amazing people who gave their all to unravel the secrets of the natural world and the human body, so that we could live longer, healthier and happier lives.