Medicine and Modernity: Public Health and Medical Care in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Germany (Publications of the German Historical Institute) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521524563 ISBN 13: 9780521524568

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2002

Synopsis

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.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

This collection of essays addresses, in a comprehensive and critical fashion, fundamental issues in the history of medicine in modern Germany. The essays also investigate important continuities and discontinuities in German history, and between Germany and the West. The central focus of the collection is on the professionalization of modern medicine and the medicalization of modern society. The problem of Nazi Germany is a common and prominent theme of many of the essays, partially because of its influence upon the debate over the nature of modern German government and society in relation to Western social, political, and economic development. Other topics include: the social place of hospitals in the early nineteenth century, the various forms of social Darwinism, the politics of state-run health insurance, the influence of eugenics on medicine and psychiatry, social control and "shell shock" in World War I, the history of sterilization and euthanasia, Nazi experimentation on humans, the abortion debate, and the role of former Nazis in the West German medical leadership.

Review:

"...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

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0521524563
• ISBN 13: 9780521524568
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256
• Editor: Berg Manfred, Cocks Geoffrey