Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany

Description

This collection addresses, in a comprehensive and critical fashion, fundamental issues in the history of medicine in modern Germany and considers the nature of modern German government and society in relation to Western social, political, and economic development. The central focus is on the professionalization of modern medicine and the medicalization of modern society. The problem of Nazi Germany is a recurring theme. Other topics include: hospitals in early nineteenth century society, Social Darwinism, state-run health insurance, eugenics, social control, Nazi experimentation, and the postwar medical leadership.

"...rich in information and insight...The book's contributions to the field should prove useful to anyone interested in the subject." Vincent A. Clark, German Studies Review "But because it takes wider views, and contains some excellent new essays, I can recommend Medicine and Modernity to both historians and physicians." Nick Hopwood, Lancet "We have, then, very rich fare. Medicine and Modernity brings recent German medical history to life, making it conveniently available for readers not able to read the growing literature in German. If there are any lessons in history, this collection may be a good place to look for them." Gert H. Brieger, MD, Journal of the American Medical Association "...this collection of essays is a welcome addition to the otherwise sparse English-language literature on the history of German medicine." Eric J. Engstrom, Jrnl of Interdisciplinary History