The period of human history that we know today as the Middle Ages spanned over a thousand years, and within that time, significant progress was made into understanding our world. Inventions and discoveries were made not just in Europe but throughout the known world during this time. One area of study that saw a lot of change was medical studies and understanding the human body. How did physicians heal the sick during the Middle Ages, and how did their experiences change their field of study? These questions and more are all explored in Juliana Cummings’ latest book, “Medicine in the Middle Ages: Surviving the Times.”

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I like learning about aspects from the past, so when I saw this title, I was interested in reading it. I am not usually curious about medical information, but medieval medical history draws me in, so I hope to learn more.

To understand many of the theories of medieval medicine and their origins, we have to go back to the Greeks, primarily Galen and Hippocrates. Many people would be familiar with the works of Hippocrates. Still, they might not be familiar with Galen even if they know his Four Humours Theory, which was pivotal in understanding the human body. Cummings also includes the works of Arab scholars, European scholars, and physicians to help the audience understand how vast the world of medical history was during the Middle Ages.

Cummings does not stick with one medical treatment or disease during this time, and she covers everything from the Black Death, syphilis, and leprosy to pregnancy and injuries during battle. Reading about the theories and cures that physicians, apothecaries, and barber surgeons applied to heal the sick and dying was quite fascinating. Even though I did take a copious amount of notes while reading this book, I did feel like other books on this subject did a better job of focusing on the medicine part. This book introduces many theories and physicians to those unfamiliar with medical history, but it falls a bit flat with actual cures that they would have used. The ending of this book also needed a bit of work since it just ended abruptly. I think it would have been appropriate for Cummings to explain why the history of medieval medicine is important for readers to understand in the 21st century and beyond.

Overall, I think this was a decent introductory book into the vast world of medieval medical history. Cummings’s writing style is easy to follow, and she has done her research about this subject. If you want a solid introductory book into the world of medieval medical history, you should check out “Medicine in the Middle Ages: Surviving the Times” by Juliana Cummings.

I was fascinated by the title and summary of this book, and was eager to learn more about how medicine was practiced during the Middle Ages. However, there were definitely positives and negatives about this book.

The chapters on how the actual major illnesses of the times, such as the Black Plague, syphilis, and sweating sickness were treated were incredibly interesting, while at the same time horrifying to visualize people willingly undergo these treatments. It's easy to remain horrified with our grasp of germ theory and present-day understanding of illness and medical care. Also interesting was the information about childbirth, mental illness, leprosy, and dental care. It was especially refreshing to see a book talking about the Middle Ages that also included Jewish and Muslim medical practices, since the Catholic Church dominated so much of society at those times, but there were still minority groups who had their own practices.

However, there was an inordinate amount of focus spent on history and famous figures in history rather than medicine. The last chapter was solely devoted to torture, which wasn't really related to the medical aspect of the book, and some of it didn't even take place during the Middle Ages, as admitted by the author. I found it a bit confusing when the author would discuss events taking place sequentially and then backtrack from the 16th century to the 1350s, even though that time period had been covered just pages before. Additionally, the entire book needed some serious editing. There were sentence fragments and so. many. misspellings.

Overall, this was an interesting read, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I would have liked a bit more of a focus on the medicine and less on the historical battles and royal families (unless it was about the medical aspects and not the politics).

*A big thank you to Juliana Cummings, Pen&Sword, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
A definite and insightful offering into the way medicine was taught and practised for over one thousand years. Ms Cummings begins with the basic information on the medical science during the ancient times, with emphasis on the role of the Arab world, which is helpful while following the progress of medicine during the later centuries. A panorama of places and practitioners of all kinds and diseases that prevailed till the beginning of Rennaisance is well-presented and easy to follow for a reader interested in the period. Personally, I found the chapters on mental disorders and the evolution of a surgeon most interesting.

This was a good book! It offered a slice of history in a interesting and engaging way. I feel like I learnt a lot of history from reading it and it didn’t even feel like hard work - it was enjoyable!

The author has produced a brilliant work on medical history and her extensive research and thorough understanding of it comes out through each lines of the book. The language is very easy to understand and the facts has been presented in a very interesting way. Being from medical background myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishing house for granting my wish to read it, it is much appreciated.

Excellent, a thoroughly detailed and comprehensive examination of medicine of the time accompanied with background to the history and historical events. I found this book very informative and accessible and I learned a great deal even though I have read quite extensively about the era and medicine through time.
The level of detail was good and I found it sensitively written rather than gratuitously gory (although I did find the descriptions of the yuckier parts fascinating). There was minor repetition in parts but it did not detract from the overall narrative. Absolutely recommend this book.

A very interesting book on medicine in the middle ages and the role religion played on it, and its development. Truly showing that medicine today is vastly different,. Well researched

As a healthcare professional who is drawn to science and history, I was intrigued by the title and curious to get my hands on a copy of Medicine in the Middle Ages. Give yourself some time to relish in all the historical details provided. This treasure reads a lot like a textbook, but without the dryness. I would have enjoyed some graphics interspersed through the pages, but my mind’s eye conjured up some good images based on the details provided. I love seeing the progression of medicine and the thought processes and rationales for why things were done the way they were done. Cummings does justice to the Middle Ages of Medicine.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

I have always been interested by history yes even getting a grade A in O level, considering my English was only C and looked forward to a book on Medicine in the Middle Ages (5thc - 15c) , considering this period of history was also part of the dark ages which we now know was not in any way 'dark' much development in Medicine occurred within this period for example the use of honey to treat wound healing which is a recognised therapy today. Now on to the review, I read around the first 30% and felt the ground work of the book was disjointed and poorly structured with to many side distraction that did not reflect the title dare I say better editing and organising needed), in particular the definition of 'Medicine' is the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment & prevalence of disease. the first part talked about individuals, their history, with little about Medicine. The first part I would give it a 2/5 but I am glad I carried one as I enjoyed the latter part of the book as we got to the nitty gritty of Medicine and the development of techniques, some very barbaric, to treatment specific illness (black plague, toothache) or effects of specific challenges for the time such as war (sword injuries, torture). I did wonder where some of the authors information came from, was it factual? but no need to work as an extensive bibliography and note section at the end has more than enough research and reading material to keep any historian happy for years. Not quite an academics book but one that the interested historian or lay person would enjoy reading and piquing ones interest. The latter half redeemed itself so an overall 3/5.

I found this to be a really enjoyable read, written in such a conversational manner that it was very easy reading. I was expecting it to just be facts about the medical procedures of the time, but it was more about general life in the medieval times and how it affected their health, and then what they did to try and combat those things. It's a great read if you have teens studying this era in history as it's interesting yet honest, or for adults who want to develop an interest in history

This was a brilliant written account of medicine in the Middle Ages, from injuries in the battle field to the effects of different societal classes on the medical care you might receive. The book covered an awful lot and was a great foundation to the topic of medicine of the Middle Ages.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and found it very engaging and entertaining to read. Some history books can sometimes feel a bit heavy going but this one was effortless.

The chapter on war wounds was a really interested read as well as the origins of hospitals and how they were founded. I loved reading about the history of different types of diseases and illnesses that plagued the people of the times. I found it really well researched and it was such an informative account on how treatments were performed, the sort of things physicians would have done and what they collectively thought at the time. I also found it so so interesting in the chapter on mental illnesses and how they were perceived and treated at the time, as well as many of the monarch and notable members of royalty that suffered from them.

Along with some notable figures and founding fathers of modern science and medicine, the book also covered torture and how not only were they striving to understand more about healing the body, but also about how they could inflict the most punishment and pain when it came to torture and punishing crime.

It’s amazing how much times have changed and looking back in it now, it’s so easy to think that they were misinformed idiots back then when it comes to medicine but it’s easy to forget they hadn’t yet founded germ theory and had no idea what the causes of sickness were. It’s certainly an eye opener!

This is a definite recommended read if you’re interested in medicine and history, I really enjoyed it!

The writing style of this just wasn't for me and I just couldn't get into it. I tried twice but it didn't hold my interest and I kept putting it down :(

I enjoyed this book. I found it interesting and well written. I also enjoyed the author’s perspectives. At times the story takes some detours, some interesting, some not. The most egregious of these was the final chapter, on the culture of death. There is also a lot of discussion of religion, which in a way I found distracting, because more could have been written about what at the time was actual medicine. Overall, though, this book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword History for the advance reader copy.

Such an interesting read! With one of my kiddos studying the middle age, it was fun to incorporate some of this information in our studies!

I was amazed by this book!
The Middle Ages covers a span of roughly one thousand years, and through that time people were subject to an array of not only deadly diseases but deplorable living conditions. It was a time when cures for sickness were often worse than the illness itself mixed with a population of people who lacked any real understanding of sanitation and cleanliness.

Dive in to the history of medieval medicine, and learn how the foundations of healing were built on the knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. Understand how your social status would have affected medical care, and how the domination of the Catholic Church was the basis of an abundant amount of fear regarding life and death.

We are given an intimate look into the devastating time of the Black Death, along with other horrific ailments that would have easily claimed a life in the Middle Ages. Delve inside the minds of the physicians and barbersurgeons for a better understanding of how they approached healing.

As well as diving into the treacherous waters of medieval childbirth, Cummings looks into the birth of hospitals and the care for the insane. We are also taken directly to the battlefield and given the gruesome details of medieval warfare and its repercussions. Examine the horrors of the torture chamber and execution as a means of justice.

Medicine in the Middle Ages is a fascinating walk through time to give us a better understanding of such a perilous part of history.

Read this over two days and sure I’ll come back and read it again as it’s a subject I love!

Medicine in the Middle Ages is exceptionally gripping and informative resplendent with many macabre and grotesque details of life and death in the era when life was all about survival in all social classes. The author's extensive research reveals the means of death of millions including well-known causes such as Black Death, syphilis, smallpox, dysentry, cholera, torture and war injuries but also lesser-known causes including St. Anthony's Fire and The Sweat. The Catholic church also played a huge role in how people viewed life and death, divine intervention and treatment of the mentally and physically sick.

The author also describes the contributions of Aristotle, Galen and Hippocrates to medicine. Autopsies were performed on criminals which provided far more information than textbook examples and theories. Roles of the butcher-surgeon are explained. Contagion was not yet known about so the world was rife with disease caused by filth and treatment of food, raw sewage (pattens only went so far), animal carcasses rotten meat thrown hither and thither, mould, fleas and lice. Childbirth was massively risky. Reeds on floors held years of disgusting remnants.

Not only are causes of sickness and death discussed but also treatments such as cupping, feathers in the throat, syrups, ointments, poultices, enemas, mercury and arsenic. No wonder patients frequently died of treatment rather than the original illness/injury. Some of the most interesting stories to me are those of tissue harvesting, worms in teeth, arrow distraction and rat torture. At the back of the book are illustrations.

History readers interested in anatomy, medicine and treatment please do read this compelling book. It is incredibly insightful and riveting. No matter how much you know, you will definitely learn more!

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this informative book.

What a fascinating look at medicine from the time of the Greeks and Hippocrates all the way through the Middle Ages. I loved learning all the ways in which humors spread. The author did a famous job keeping the reading engaged while learning of the filthy ways on which people lived during these times.

A great insight into how medical treatments were developed and also how religions have played a part in it’s development. I would recommend this book.

I was fascinated with the subject of this book. I loved learning about the Sleeping Sickness that plagued England during several time periods. The birthing girdles, the ways in which doctors and dentists would rely on plants and other remedies to try to help patients.
I enjoyed learning about medicine in the Middle Ages, it seemed that the book should have been focused more on just the United Kingdom, that was where the majority of the book was written about.
The other thing was that the book could have been better organized, a plague chapter, a womans chapter, other ailments, routine doctoring, education, etc. I had a hard time jumping between the chapters.
The final chapter was odd and should not have been included. I was curious as to why that chapter on TORTURE was included in the book, unless a doctor was administering the torture.
Overall, I learned new things from the book, but felt that the book needed a BETTER editor to help condense the book.

Parts of the book were informative and interesting; but other parts were disappointing.

I found chapters 4, 5 and 6 particularly interesting, as they gave good information about a range of medieval illnesses and attempts to treat them. We heard about plagues like the black death, illnesses like Syphilis and Sweating Sickness, and psychological peculiarities like the Dancing craze which saw several people dance themselves to exhaustion and death.

The chapter on women’s health was particularly noteworthy as the author’s passion shone through, telling us about birth procedures, menstruation and abortions.

The rest of the book I found problematic.

Much of the first three chapters read like ‘fact dumps,’ as if they were the author’s notes, rather than the finished text of the book. They seemed to include disjointed facts which didn’t seem to have any obvious relevance to telling the reader about ‘medieval medicine.’ For example we hear that Abbots had ‘Priors’ to help them run monasteries (10%). But we are not told how, or why, that is relevant to the book’s theme of ‘medieval medicine.’

The prose of the book also seemed clunky, with a lot of “it is believed that” or “it is claimed…” There were also some odd uses of English. Catholics and Orthodox Christians are described as “sects” (11%). Enemies on a battlefield are described as “opposing teams” (17%) and the signatories of Magna Carta are described as “founders” (26%). There were sentences which I didn’t understand. For example, “it is implausible to see how the medical community deemed menstruating women as a type of monster” (36%).

The overall shape of the book led to repetition and issues being fragmented across several chapters. For example, we hear about leprosy in chapter 4 (33%) and then we get a bit more on it in chapter 8 (77%). We hear about plagues being attributed to Miasmas in one chapter, and then we hear about the plague masks which doctors used in a different chapter.

The book would have been easier to follow if each chapter had a sharper focus and dealt “completely” with each issue, before moving on to a new set of issues for the next chapter.

I found the final chapter puzzling, as it was about death and torture. In the preface the author tells the reader that she includes it because… she just wanted to. This is an odd rationale, especially as there were many issues of medieval medicine that the book didn’t cover. For example we hear about eye issues such as ‘cataracts’ (56%) but then there is no information on optics and the developments of spectacles, which we can see being worn in late medieval pictures. I think the author would have been better keeping death and torture for a possible follow-up book; and instead focusing more sharply in this book on the issues of “medicine” which the title promises the reader.

Overall, I think that there was the potential for a good book, but the book needs far more editing and organisational structure if it is to achieve its potential.

(These are honest comments based on an Advanced Review Copy of the book).