Description
Book Synopsis: Could Lincoln have lived? After John Wilkes Booth fired a low-velocity .44 caliber bullet into the back of the president's skull, Lincoln did not perish immediately. Attending doctors cleaned and probed the wound, and actually improved his breathing for a time. Today medical trauma teams help similar victims survive-including Gabby Giffords, whose injury was strikingly like Lincoln's. In Diagnosing Giants, Dr. Philip A. Mackowiak examines the historical record in detail, reconstructing Lincoln's last hours moment by moment to calculate the odds. That leads him to more questions: What if he had lived? What sort of neurological function would he have had? What kind of a Constitutional crisis would have ensued? Dr. Mackowiak, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, offers a gripping and authoritative account of thirteen patients who took center stage in world history. The result is a new understanding of how the past unfolded, as well as a sweeping survey of the history of medicine. What was the ailment that drove Caligula mad? Why did Stonewall Jackson die after having an arm amputated, when so many other Civil War soldiers survived such operations? As with Lincoln, the author explores the full context of his subjects' lives and the impact of each case on the course of history, from Tutankhamen, Buddha, and John Paul Jones to Darwin, Lenin, and Eleanor Roosevelt. When an author illuminates the past with state-of-the-art scientific knowledge, readers pay attention. Candice Millard's Destiny of the Republic, about the medical malpractice that killed President James A. Garfield, was a New York Times bestseller. And Dr. Mackowiak's previous book, Post-Mortem: Solving History's Greatest Medical Mysteries, won the attention of periodicals as diverse as the Wall Street Journal and New England Journal of Medicine, which pleaded for a sequel. With Diagnosing Giants, he has written one with impeccable expertise and panache.
Details
Discover the captivating and thought-provoking world of medical mysteries with "Diagnosing Giants: Solving the Medical Mysteries of Thirteen Patients Who Changed the World" book. Written by renowned medical expert, Dr. Philip A. Mackowiak, this gripping account takes you on a journey through time, exploring the intriguing ailments that affected historical giants and the impact on the course of history.
Uncover the secrets of Lincoln's survival after the fateful bullet, and delve into the question of what might have unfolded if he had lived. Imagine the Constitutional crisis that could have ensued and ponder over the potential neurological function he would have had. Dr. Mackowiak, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, meticulously reconstructs the final hours of Lincoln and calculates the odds.
But Lincoln is just one of the thirteen extraordinary patients featured in this remarkable book. Dr. Mackowiak reveals the mysteries behind the madness of Caligula, the tragic fate of Stonewall Jackson after an arm amputation, and the strikingly similar injury suffered by Gabby Giffords. Prepare to be enthralled by the in-depth exploration of each case and the significant impact they had on world history.
By blending historical records with state-of-the-art scientific knowledge, "Diagnosing Giants" offers a fresh perspective on the past and a comprehensive overview of the history of medicine. Dr. Mackowiak's expertise and authoritative narrative provide an enlightening reading experience that will captivate both history enthusiasts and medical enthusiasts alike.
Join the ranks of satisfied readers who were enamored by Dr. Mackowiak's previous book, "Post-Mortem: Solving History's Greatest Medical Mysteries." This highly acclaimed bestseller drew attention from prestigious periodicals such as the Wall Street Journal and New England Journal of Medicine, with many eagerly awaiting a sequel.
Now, the wait is over. Dive into the extraordinary world of medical mysteries with "Diagnosing Giants" and be prepared to be awed by impeccable expertise and panache. Immerse yourself in the pages of this engrossing book that will leave you with a newfound understanding of the past and an insatiable curiosity for the intricacies of medical history.
Don't miss this opportunity to embark on a thrilling intellectual adventure. Grab your copy of "Diagnosing Giants" today and unlock the secrets of medical mysteries that shaped the world.
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