Men with strange tumors and lumps. Women horribly scarred by fire. Children with cleft palate. People who are seen as monsters to mid-19th century society are viewed as surgical challenges to Dr. Mütter.
“And when it came to his plastic surgery, he could transform the deformed to wholeness.”
Thomas Dent Mütter was a born innovator in the field of restorative plastic surgery, pioneering techniques in a time before anesthesia or sterile practices.
Why is this on our bookshelf?
I can’t help it. Stories of scientific progress are thrilling, and all the better . Maybe I just have a morbid kind of mind, but these kind of books fascinate me.
Rating (4 stars)
I read a lot of nonfiction books. Contrary to what school textbooks might imply, a good nonfiction story can be as compelling as the fictional and in some cases, more so.
This was a good, well-researched non-fiction book and I enjoyed reading it. However, it stopped short of being absolutely brilliant… which is a shame because I definitely thought it had the potential to reach that.
However, if medical history interests you, picking up Dr. Mütter’s Marvels is a must.
Read this book:
After lunch, before lunch but definitely not during lunch.
Don't Read this book:
if you are squeamish. Two words: phossy jaw
Once you're done, do this:
Make a trip to Philidelphia and visit The Mütter Museum.
