Doctor Franklin's Medicine Book

Stanley Finger uncovers the instrumental role that Benjamin Franklin—scientist, inventor, publisher, and statesman—played in the development of the healing arts, giving preventive and bedside medicine, hospital care, and even personal hygiene a modern look that changed the face of medical care in both America and Europe.

Library Journal

Like this reviewer, many librarians have reason to be grateful for one of Benjamin Franklin's medical innovations-bifocal glasses. Most famous for his groundbreaking experiments with electricity, polymath Franklin was also fascinated by medicine. He popularized vaccination for smallpox, debunked the popular nostrum of "mesmerism," explored the reasons for colds, and conducted some of the first experiments on electroshock therapy. Finger (psychology, Washington Univ., St. Louis; Minds Behind the Brain) discusses Franklin as a medical researcher, a patient, and an advocate for healthy living who coined Poor Richard's still-pointed maxims, such as "Eat to live, and not live to eat." Although specialized, Franklin's Medicine is an intriguing story well told and recommended for libraries with interests in the history of medicine or in Frankliniana.-Kathy Arsenault, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib. Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.