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History Of American Medicine

STEELE, Volney. Bleed, blister, and purge; a history of medicine on the American frontier. Mountain Press. 365p. illus. notes. index. c2005. 0-87842-505-5. $15.00. SA

An intriguing resource for both the history of medicine and the frontier, Steele's illustrated text covers the bold doctoring of Native American healers, missionaries, Mormon settlers, and grannies to the arrival of professional treatment to the outback from cavalry surgeons and lady doctors. Steele examines the contributions of mountain men, circuit riders, and Chinese herbalists. His broad range includes the medical exigencies of the Battle of Wounded Knee, mining camps, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and multiple amputations during the Civil War. Essential to the overview are instances of poor sanitation, epidemics, and quackery and the efficacy of home remedies, mineral spas, urotherapy, patent tonics, barroom surgery, and extractors for arrows and bullets. Highly recommended for school and public libraries as well as for professional shelves. Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Hickory, NC

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

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