Medicine: A Graphic History, Paperback

An engaging, informative, and endlessly surprising graphic history of medicine

In the Middle Ages, surgery was performed by barbers due to their skill with sharp instruments. In the mid-19th century, a "grand exhibition" of the effects of laughing gas inadvertently led to the discovery of anesthesia. Three decades later, Louis Pasteur enjoyed a crucial breakthrough in his search for vaccinations because his assistant decided, against his orders, to take a vacation.

Here, cardiac surgeon and professor of medical history Jean-No l Fabiani stitches together the most significant and intriguing episodes from the history of medicine, from chance breakthroughs to hard-fought scientific discoveries. Spanning centuries and crossing continents, this funny, fast-paced yet rigorously detailed graphic novel guides us through one of the most wondrous strands of human history, covering everything from bloodletting to organ donation, X-rays, and prosthetics.

Dr. Jean-No l Fabiani is head of the department of cardiac surgery at Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris. He is also a professor at the Paris-Descartes University, where he spent a decade teaching the history of medicine. Philippe Bercovici is a comic book artist from Nice, France, who has published numerous comics and graphic novels.