A SHORT HISTORY OF MEDICINE

Gonz?lez-Crussi's primer on medical history is organized by theme rather than chronology, covering the mostly Western understanding of anatomy, obstetrics, diagnosis, remedies, and other practices from antiquity to the present. None of the research is new, and the narrative, unavoidably, has enormous gaps, though it does contribute some interesting insights on contemporary medical issues. John McDonough's familiar voice--breathy but warm and expressive--is a welcoming guide through the material, which might otherwise have a clinical tone. Like a good doctor, McDonough has a reassuring manner. His narration carries along the text even when it starts to drag, though ultimately the stilted writing overtakes him. D.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]