The Origin and Growth of the Healing Art: A Popular History of Medicine in All Ages and Countries

A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning, with copious Explanatory Notes and References on all difficult passages. Second Edition. Pp. xx., 572. Price 10 s. 6 d. Some Opinions of the Press. “Conscientious and painstaking.”— Times. “A serviceable book, and deserves to be widely bought.”— The Spectator. “A book of far-reaching research and careful industry.”— Scotsman. “A most learned and creditable piece of work.”— Vanity Fair. “A monument of industry and devotion.”— Bookman. BROWNING’S MESSAGE TO HIS TIME: His Religion, Philosophy, and Science. With Portrait and Facsimile Letters. Third Edition. Price 3 s. 6 d. [Dilettante Library.] Opinions of the Press. “Full of admiration and sympathy.”— Saturday Review. “Should have a wide circulation; it is interesting and stimulative.”— Literary World. “We have no hesitation in strongly recommending this little volume to any who desire to understand the moral and mental attitude of Robert Browning.... We are much obliged to Dr. Berdoe for his volume.”— Oxford University Herald. EXPELLING THE DISEASE-DEMON. [ Frontispiece. THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE HEALING ART A POPULAR HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES. BY EDWARD BERDOE, Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh; Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England; Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries, London, etc., etc. Author of “The Browning Cyclopædia,” etc., etc. London SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1893 Butler & Tanner, The Selwood Printing Works, Frome, and London. PREFACE. The History of Medicine is a terra incognita to the general reader, and an all but untravelled region to the great majority of medical men. On special occasions, such as First of October Addresses at the opening of the Medical Schools, or the Orations delivered before the various Medical Societies, certain periods of medical history are referred to, and a few of the great names of the founders of medical and surgical science are held up to the admiration of the audience. From time to time excellent monographs on the subject appear in the Lancet and British Medical Journal . But with the exception of these brilliant electric flashes, the History of Medicine is a dark continent to English students who have not made long and tedious researches in our great libraries. For it is a remarkable fact that the History of Medicine has been almost completely neglected by English writers. This cannot be due either to the want of importance or…