Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders by William A. Alcott
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"Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders" by William A. Alcott is an autobiographical account written in the mid-19th century. This work encapsulates the reflections and confessions of an aged physician as he recounts his long journey through the medical profession, shedding light on the misconceptions of healthcare practices of his time. The narrative is set against the backdrop of Alcott's formative years, where he critiques the use of medicinal
treatments and the public’s blind adherence to the medical systems prevalent in his day. The opening of the narrative introduces readers to Alcott's early life in rural New England, where he describes a community rife with superstitions and a rudimentary understanding of education and medicine. He highlights the societal belief that certain ailments could be "physicked off," recounting childhood experiences that gradually drew him toward a career in medicine despite the challenges he faced. As he navigates stories of his first medical lessons, including the traumatic witnessing of his brother's accident, the misunderstood effects of common treatments, and the naive practices of local practitioners, it becomes evident that Alcott's journey is not only a personal confession but also a broader commentary on the evolution of medical knowledge and practices. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Alcott, William A. (William Andrus), 1798-1859 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 01019657 |
| Title |
Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged Physician |
| Credits |
Produced by David Edwards, Josephine Paolucci and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net. (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 66.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | R: Medicine |
| Subject | Medicine -- Anecdotes |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 34038 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-34038-8 |
| Release Date | Oct 5, 2010 |
| Last Update | Jan 7, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 571 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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