This journey to the beginnings of the physician's art brings to life the civilizations of the ancient world-Egypt of the Pharaohs, Greece at the time of Hippocrates, Rome under the Caesars, the India of Ashoka, and China as Mencius knew it. Probing the documents and artifacts of the ancient world with a scientist's mind and a detective's eye, Guido Majno pieces together the difficulties people faced in the effort to survive their injuries, as well as the odd, chilling, or inspiring ways in which they rose to the challenge. In asking whether the early healers might have benefited their patients, or only hastened their trip to the grave, Dr. Majno uncovered surprising answers by testing ancient prescriptions in a modern laboratory.
Illustrated with hundreds of photographs, many in full color, and climaxing ten years of work, The Healing Hand is a spectacular recreation of man's attempts to conquer pain and disease.
- ISBN10 0674383303
- ISBN13 9780674383302
- Publish Date 31 January 1975
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 13 March 1992
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Harvard University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 600
- Language English