Children's Surgery - by John G Raffensperger (Paperback)

About the Book

"These essays document the origins of children's surgery, chronicle the history of children's surgery into modern times, and explore the treatment of the most common visceral birth defects. With contributing authors offering perspectives from a variety of cultures, this extraordinary collection will interest not only medical professionals, but also historians and others in the child care field."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

The history of medicine and surgery is well documented, but this volume offers the first specific exploration of the treatment of and attitudes towards children with injuries and birth defects through the ages. Popular thought holds that children in ancient times with birth defects faced a short life of abandonment or neglect. Examination of written records from ancient Egypt, India, Greece, and Islam, however, shows that physicians and surgeons have attempted to find remedies to cure ailing youths from the beginning of recorded medical history. These essays document the origins of children's surgery, chronicle the history of children's surgery into modern times, and explore the treatment of the most common visceral birth defects. With contributing authors offering perspectives from a variety of cultures, this extraordinary collection will interest not only medical professionals, but also historians and others in the child care field.

Review Quotes

"a book of this kind is long awaited...highly laudable. All the 18 contributors of the book have done a commendable job by recording the history of pediatric surgery with authenticity. This book deserves to find a place in every library and is a 'must read' for every surgeon especially those who are interested in children's surgery"-Indian Journal of Pediatric Surgery; "it succeeds well by introducing any one without a large experience in the specific history of pediatric surgery...delightful"-Doody; "explains that pediatric surgery was not a specialty on its own until the middle of the 20th century, but as far back as ancient Egypt, India, and Cina and down the ages some individual healers specialized in children"-Reference & Research Book News.

About the Author

The late John G. Raffensperger, M.D. was a pediatric surgeon and the author of numerous books on pediatric surgery.