The History of Medicine; The Growth of Gastroenterologic Knowledge during the Twentieth Century

doi:10.1056/NEJM199409223311224

Volume 331:818		September 22, 1994		Number 12

The History of Medicine
The Growth of Gastroenterologic Knowledge during the Twentieth Century

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Edited by Joseph B. Kirsner. 522 pp., illustrated. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 1994. $75. ISBN 0-8121-159209.

The functions of the digestive tract have always held a peculiarfascination, as evidenced by the positions of "Physician ofthe Belly of the Pharaoh" and "Guardian of the Anus" in theancient Egyptian royal court. This scholarly work chroniclesthe journey from curiosity and superstition to knowledge basedon science. Our understanding of the human digestive systemhas advanced remarkably during the past 50 years, and accordingly,most of the book deals with that era. However, the book alsoprovides eclectic and fascinating glimpses into the gastroenterologicopinions held by the pharaohs' courts, the people of ancientGreece and . . . [Full Text of this Article]