An anthology of 19th-century literature on medicine and medical practice, presenting mostly fictional but also some nonfiction works by British, French, American, and Russian writers that
describe the day-to-day social realities of medicine during a period of great change. Selections address the use of new instruments, the advent of women doctors, the function of the hospital,
and the shifting balance of power between physicians and patients. Includes an introductory overview of major aspects of medical progress in the 19th century. Furst teaches comparative
literature at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)