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Ten Drugs

How Plants, Powders, and Pills Have Shaped the History of Medicine
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Ten Drugs by Thomas Hager traces the fascinating history behind ten landmark drugs that have shaped medicine and culture. From the ancient use of opium, known as the "joy plant," to breakthroughs like the first antibiotic and the revolutionary antipsychotics, this book unveils captivating stories of innovation, discovery, and unexpected side effects. It also highlights pioneers such as the female advocate for smallpox inoculation in Britain and explores modern advances like Viagra, statins, and monoclonal antibodies.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book will appeal to readers interested in medical history, science, and the cultural impact of pharmaceuticals. It suits those curious about the stories behind major medical advancements and the evolution of healthcare practices.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Behind every landmark drug is a story. It could be an oddball researcher's genius insight, a catalyzing moment in geopolitical history, a new breakthrough technology, or an unexpected but welcome side effect discovered during clinical trials. Piece together these stories, as Thomas Hager does in this remarkable, century-spanning history, and you can trace the evolution of our culture and the practice of medicine.

Beginning with opium, the "joy plant," which has been used for 10,000 years, Hager tells a captivating story of medicine. His subjects include the largely forgotten female pioneer who introduced smallpox inoculation to Britain, the infamous knockout drops, the first antibiotic, which saved countless lives, the first antipsychotic, which helped empty public mental hospitals, Viagra, statins, and the new frontier of monoclonal antibodies.

Ten Drugs is a deep, wide-ranging, and wildly entertaining book.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781419735226

Publisher: Abrams

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 April 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: Abrams Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 139.0mm

Height: 210.0mm

Weight: 310g

Pages: 304

About the Author

Thomas Hager is an award-winning author of books on the history of science and medicine, including The Demon Under the Microscope. He is a courtesy associate professor of journalism and communication at the University of Oregon.

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