• The Doctors' Plague: Germs, Childbed Fever, and the Strange Story of Ignac Semmelweis

Author: Sherwin B. Nuland

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Publication Date: 2003

Format: Paperback

Language: English

Page Count: 224 pages

"The Doctors' Plague" tells the compelling story of Ignac Semmelweis, a 19th-century Hungarian physician who discovered the cause of childbed fever. Semmelweis observed a significantly higher mortality rate in maternity wards where doctors performed autopsies. He theorized doctors were carrying "cadaverous particles" on their hands, infecting women. Implementing handwashing with a chlorinated lime solution dramatically reduced the incidence of childbed fever. Despite evidence, Semmelweis faced intense opposition. The book highlights his struggle, descent into madness, and the eventual acceptance of his germ theory, which laid the foundation for modern antiseptic practices. Sherwin B. Nuland expertly weaves together historical context and scientific detail, making this a captivating read for anyone interested in the history of medicine and the challenges of scientific progress. This is a gripping narrative of a medical pioneer's unwavering dedication to saving lives.

Genre: History, Science, Medicine, Biography

Subject: Ignac Semmelweis, Childbed Fever, Puerperal Fever, History of Medicine, Germ Theory

Themes: Medical History, Scientific Discovery, Public Health, Medical Opposition

GTIN: 9780393347852