The Rise of Causal Concepts of Disease ― Case Histories

Carter (philosophy, Brigham Young U.) realized after college that he knew quite a bit more about physics than he had any practical use for, and nearly nothing about medicine, which he encountered daily. He began his own search for the fundamental theories of modern medicine, and shares his findings. Being a philosopher, he is mostly concerned with conceptual analysis, but is convinced that such analysis must be embedded in historical context to make sense. His study looks at the early 19th-century origins of theories that microorganisms and nutritional deficiency cause diseases. Parts of it have been published separately. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)