Great Feuds in Medicine: Ten of the Liveliest Disputes Ever - Paperback

by Hal Hellman (Author)

An exciting, well-researched work, which should appeal to anyone with an interest in the nature and progress of the human race.
--American Scientist

The cataclysmic clash of medical ideas and personalities comes to colorful life
In this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Great Feuds in Science (Wiley: 0-471-16980-3), Hal Hellman tells the stories of the ten most heated and important disputes of medical science. Featuring a mix of famous and lesser-known stories, Great Feuds in Medicine includes the fascinating accounts of William Harvey's battle with the medical establishment over his discovery of the circulation of blood; Louis Pasteur's fight over his theory of germs; and the nasty dispute between American Robert Gallo and French researcher Luc Montagnier over who discovered the HIV virus. An informative and insightful look at how such medical controversies are not only typical, but often necessary to the progress of the science.

Back Jacket

This engaging book documents [the] reactions in ten of the most heated controversies and rivalries in medical history. . . . The disputes detailed are . . . fascinating. . . . It is delicious stuff here. -The New York Times
"An exciting, well-researched work, which should appeal to anyone with an interest in the nature and progress of the human race."-American Scientist
"[A] solid introduction to the history of medicine." -Kirkus Reviews
"Stimulating."-Journal of the American Medical Association
From seventeenth-century anatomist William Harvey to twentieth-century lightning rod Sigmund Freud, countless researchers, physicians, and scientists have found themselves-and their work-at the center of raging disputes that have destroyed careers and lives. In this captivating follow-up to his acclaimed Great Feuds in Science, Hal Hellman tells the entertaining stories of the most heated and important of these disputes. Highlighting both famous (Sabin vs. Salk) and lesser-known (Galvani vs. Volta) clashes, he offers a front-row seat at the signal bouts of medical history.

Author Biography

HAL HELLMAN is the author of twenty-seven popular science books, including Great Feuds in Science (Wiley) and the six-book series World of the Future. He has also written science articles for the New York Times, Omni, Reader's Digest, Psychology Today, and Geo.