Medicine

Next time you feel grumpy about getting a shot, consider this: Without modern medicine, our life span would probably be half what it is now – or about 45 years, which was about how long people lived in the Middle Ages. Medicine, for kids studying Health Science, takes an in-depth look at how this critical science has developed over time, highlighting the great advances that have doubled our life expectancy in just 400 years. Kids curious about ancient medicine will learn about Hippocrates, the Greek “father of medicine,” and Galen, a Roman doctor who compiled his medical knowledge into a book that gave shape to modern practices.

The history of surgery is also dissected, starting with the plastic surgeons of ancient India and moving through the development of anesthesia, antiseptics, and pain management – all of which have made surgery a whole lot more bearable. Also on the table: a survey of quacks and fads that have followed right behind medical advances, offering quick (and often unsuccessful) fixes. And what about alternatives to modern medicine? Holistic, herbal, and Ayurvedic medicine, for kids hoping to avoid the scary man in the white coat, are also featured, as well as a summary of the latest breakthroughs in gene therapy and stem cell research.

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