Langley, Andrew. Ancient Medicine.

Langley, Andrew.  Ancient Medicine.  Capstone/Heinemann     48p  $33.99 

978-104109-4642-3      2013  ms/hs   E-BNS   series: Medicine Through the Ages          

This book takes a fascinating look at the progress of medicine through the ages, and its influences and practices that originated in Egypt and the Middle East.  The theories, procedures, diseases, practices and medicines that were developed in countries such as India, China, Greece, and Rome are discussed.  The informative text presents material in an engaging manner, enhanced by full-color pictures on each page.

The page layout is attractive and contains text boxes that provide additional information, keeping explanations brief but thorough. Also included at the bottom of each page is a word station that provides definitions for bolded terms in the text.  This enhances the flow of the already fluid text, since it means that the reader is not required to flip pages back and forth for definitions.

This book is a great resource for young readers and researchers, as it contains a wealth of information about the history of medicine.  It contains a table of contents, glossary at the end, a timeline, a list of sources for more information and a comprehensive index.  Not only is this a great resource, but it is also an interesting, captivating, and entertaining non-fiction book for young and reluctant readers who are looking for an alternative to novels.

It is another fabulous book in the Medicine Through the Ages series, which currently includes five books.  Other titles are Medieval Medicine, Renaissance Medicine, Industrial Age Medicine, and Modern Medicine.

Medicine, History of Science                          --Virginia McGarvey