I was interested in this as I have studied historical approaches to medicine at different points in my education. For some reason it always seemed to crop up in exam topics. This is a reasonably thorough look at the topic but alas not particularly enthralling in style. This is a thoroughly academic approach to the topic with very little patience for the amateur historian. But if you are in need of more information on the topic, look no further!

Maladies and Medicine is an always informative, often fascinating, at times wince-inducing look at the various illnesses diagnosed in in the early-modern period, as well as their various treatments, although both “illnesses” and “treatments” can be misleading terms, given that not all such sicknesses were actual ailments and that the vast majority of treatments not only didn’t do much for the sufferer but may have (in the case of mercury treatments for instance) made things far worse.

The authors open with a general overview of medicine that the time, discussing the belief in bodily humours, astrological medicine, the impact of religion, how gender affected diagnosis, and the division of the medical community into physicians, surgeons and apothecaries. The rest of the book is divided up into several general sections: Head Complaints, Abdominal Maladies, Whole Body Ailments, and Reproductive Maladies, with individual illnesses each given typically 6-7 pages of description, though it varies from ailment to ailment. The list of “maladies” includes migraines, palsy, toothache, kidney stones, cancer, diabetes, gout, scurvy, smallpox, the plague, the “virgin’s disease,” infertility, and venereal disease, along with a number of others. At the end, the authors recognize that even this lengthy list is only a partial one of those that could have been covered, and while some are of obvious importance (the plague, the pox), choosing which ones to detail and which to ignore is somewhat arbitrary.

Each individual section describes the various symptoms, the many ways of diagnosing the illness, and the often varied and legion methods of treatment. Some of the treatments will be familiar to the general lay reader — bleeding, leeches, amulets and charms — while others might be more of a surprise if not an outright shock, such as taking a puppy that has been “cloven in two parts through the midst of the back” and laying it atop the “afflicted joints.” Evans and Read bolster their claims with numerous quotations from primary documents — medical texts, letters, diaries, and the like, along with a number of illustrations.

The presentation is smooth and clear throughout and while aimed at the lay reader in terms of vocabulary and syntax, the tone is clear but serious, the language neither academic nor elevated, but also not conversational, and there’s little to no humor (i.e. not the approach say of a Mary Roach or Bill Bryson). But for the serious lay reader, one interested in history or doing research for some writing set in the time period, this is an excellent resource.

"Maladies and Medicine" gives a short overview over some of the most important and most well-known diseases of the early modern period. I liked learning more about the various diseases but the writing style wasn't really all that interesting and the chapters weren't really all that well structured.

This book is very technical. I don’t see anyone enjoying it as a pleasure read nor using it for a serious medical research. The only use I can see for this book is as one of the sources when someone is writing a school paper.

I wanted to enjoy “Maladies and Medicine,” but it was a struggle to maintain focus and keep my mind from drifting. It’s way more technical than I was expecting and seemed aimed more at professionals than the average lay person. There were some interesting facts in the book, but I can’t recommend it.

This was an endlessly interesting book! I actually found myself pacing my reading so that I didn't just speed through it. Each chapter is divided up into a different illness, where we are given a great overview peppered with content from primary sources. This was a time period / subject that I didn't know too much about going in, and by the end I was sharing things I'd learned with my partner and people at work haha!

I don't think I have any criticisms, aside from wishing it was longer since i enjoyed it so much! I would love to see the authors do a "Part 2" for all the illnesses and conditions that didn't make the cut into this book.

not reviewed. my approval was not granted until July 14 and as I did not check my email until the 15th, I am now not able to download the book.

Europe in the 1600s was a strange place to be. Science and empirical data were beginning to subsume old superstition. The invention of the microscope opened up a whole new world to human sight. Discoveries in physics, medicine, and other fields slowly brought Europe into the modern age. But for a time, superstition and science existed as awkward bedfellows. Doctors tried to balance the ancient medical theories of Galen and Hippocrates with new, scientifically gathered data. It is this awkward stage that is front and center in Maladies and Medicine.

This is a straight-up history book. While the authors certainly inject frivolity and humor into the book, this is meant more for the dedicated history buff, and not for the casual reader. Evans and Reed, while admitting to the books limitations in scope (it's a big topic), include a vast amount of information, conveniently divvied up by disease. The authors also delve into the differences between medical doctors, surgeons, midwives and other practicing women, and the unofficial medical practitioners. Each has their own origin and medical views, and it is curious to see when they agree, disagree, and borrow from one another.

History buffs will find a lot of great information (and a lot of cringe-worthy knowledge) in this book. If you're interested in medieval history or medical history, this book is a great addition to your TBR. However, if you're looking for a similar book for a more casual reader, you should check out Quackery by Lydia Kang.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.