Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine

by George M. Gould, Walter L. Pyle

A collection of extraordinary cases derived from exhaustive research of medical literature, abstracted, annotated, and indexed. (1896)

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Medicine, Medical, History

914 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1896

About the author

George Milbry (or Milbrey) Gould was an American physician and lexicographer.

Reviews

[Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm skipping all through this trip of a tome.
In and out -like sewing, I suppose.

It's like pure oxygen.
I can't put it down.
Stop to Google for veracity every other page.

The information contained -if factual- is questionable.
For instance, I knew about the Hottentots ...but really -should seeing plate 5 (between pages 210-211) really have been such an eye-opener for me?

I've also developed a fondness for particular chapters.
For instance- the entry on "Human Odors".
Also the entries on "Anthropophagy, Or Cannibalism" (page 409), "Intellectual Dwarfs" (page 337), "Food Superstitions" (page 493), "The Skoptzies" (page 757), "Foreign Bodies In The Rectum" (page 645) and the unforgettable "Living Fish In The Pharynx" (page 567).

Amazing.
And to quote the brilliant logician George "Gabby" Hayes, "not only is it incredible, it's unbelievable too"!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read!!! I couldn't stop! I recommend it if you are into freaky medical type stuff

[Harrie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing !

[Cheryl]

Years ago a friend and I went on a camping trip near Leavenworth, Washington. We were both broke and only had enough money for the campsite, some food, and gas. We got bored around the campground one afternoon and drove over the pass to Skykomish, a little town, and came upon a yard sale. I found this book for fifty cents. Upon first look, I was repulsed by the contents. But I kept picking it up because I could not stop looking at it. I knew I'd regret it if I didn't buy it, even though it completely creeped me out. I spent the rest of the camping trip with my mouth hanging open and my nose stuck in this amazing book. It is still a favorite to this day and one of the books i will never part with. It makes me feel dirty in a way but it's like a train wreck - you can't look away.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found an ancient copy of this book in a used book store in San Diego. It was very much like the bookstore in Never Ending Story so I found an attic and I've been reading about 19th century theories on the phenomenon of spontaneous combustion ever sense.

[Muriel Schwenck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this with my weekly allowance when I was 12. Entertained me for years.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really unsure what to rate this. Fascinating and compelling in places, makes you go to google a lot to fnd out more. Interesting insight into 19th century times too. But I also skipped a lot of pages of pure lists and jargon and it felt like a chore to get to the end.

[Dev Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

published in 1896, literally every page will make you say “lol what the fuck,” be it from the antiquated social viewpoints or the most INSANE language combinations i’ve seen no where else, such as “worms in the uterus” and “bulimia is excessive morbid hunger, also called canine appetite,” or what is likely a grandiose combination of the two. actually definitely one of the more wild books i own, and i have a serial killer encyclopedia.

[Andrew Church]

This book is great at dinner parties! I just open it randomly to a page and start reading. Its oddly similiar to The Dirt by Motley Crue in that way.

[Arnpoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical read.

[Metagion · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a medical journal from the late 1800s. Some cool pictures, but a LOT of jargon. Cool to see how things were done in the "olden days."

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very long read, but full of fascinating anecdotes to reward the persistent.

[Leonardo Mancillas · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title says, curiosities. Do not expect to learn medicine from this book but rather understand the history of medicine, on very selected aspects and topics.

[Vinaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it

[Rhonda Soukup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never saw the movie, liked the story, but did not like the Scarlet character. If this book was not that well known I probably wouldn't have finished reading it. The main character was a spoiled, selfish, mean person. On the other hand I found the historical aspects of the story interesting and wonder how truthful they are. An interesting perspective to the Civil War and of that cultural/social period of time.

[Shannon Ellsworth]

I couldn’t read this. To disturbing. BUT if you’re into weird medical sh*t this would be right up your alley! I guess the title says it all except that it’s from the late 1800s which adds an entirely new level of weirdness.