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The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure TB
The Remedy Robert Koch Arthur Conan Doyle and the Quest to Cure TB
Author: Thomas Goetz
The riveting history of tuberculosis, the world?s most lethal disease, the two men whose lives it tragically intertwined, and the birth of medical science. —   — In 1875, tuberculosis was the deadliest disease in the world, accountable for a third of all deaths. A diagnosis of TB—often called consumption—was a death sentence. Then, in triumph of m...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9781592407514
ISBN-10: 159240751X
Publication Date: 3/20/2014
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1

3 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Gotham
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 6
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review
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Cattriona avatar reviewed The Remedy: Robert Koch, Arthur Conan Doyle, and the Quest to Cure TB on + 200 more book reviews
Scientists are not the paragons of virtue that they might appear -- that's a main lesson from this book. Though the blurb mentions Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the first 100 pages are all about scientist Robert Koch, his experiments to prove that bacteria exist and cause disease, and his vocal, public spats with fellow scientists of the day, such as Lister, who tried to prove him wrong. Koch's self-proclaimed cure for tuberculosis turns out to be quackery, and this inspires Conan Doyle to eventually turn to a life of writing rather than medicine.

The science here is written for the layman, with enough details to be interesting without drowning the reader in technical details. While the storyline is fascinating, and the squabbling scientists read like a modern-day medical gossip column, ultimately things could have benefited from some tighter editing and trimming the story down -- I don't think we need a full history of Conan Doyle's writing about Sherlock Holmes in order to understand his role in the search for a TB cure. With those caveats, this is an interesting read about a disease which still threatens lives worldwide. Recommended.

Note: This review was based upon an Advanced Reader's Copy.


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