Medical Knowledge: Doubt and Certainty (Health and Disease)

Sociologists, historians, epidemiologists, and human biologists put the construction of medical knowledge under their microscopes. They examine modern culture and the co-existence of lay beliefs, alternative and contemporary therapies, and orthodox scientific views of health and disease. Three case studies (concerning tuberculosis, blood, and hysteria) are presented, representing the historical development of medical knowledge. The social aspects of medicine are considered, including the cultural factors affecting medical practice, the place of ritual, the use of medicine as a tool for social control, and issues of trust and communication between doctor and patient. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)