Bat Spit, Maggots, and Other Amazing Medical Wonders (Nasty (but Useful!) Science)

(Paperback)

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Doctors use medicine and surgeries to heal our bodies. But who would have thought they could use maggots to eat dead flesh or snake venom to lower blood pressure Grab some gloves, and get ready to see some amazing medical practices put to use.

Reviews

Capitalizing on the inherent fascination middle level students have with things that seem outrageous or yucky, this author does an outstanding job of relating traditional and homeopathic cures to modern medical practice. From leeches and maggots to the venom of poisonous snakes, readers learn about unique uses for outrageous products. A researcher might find evidence of the efficacy of honey for MRSA-infected wounds in NIH's PubMed, but the function is not widely known. Here, students read and learn. Using venom to ferry proteins across the brain-blood barrier to treat cancer will be enlightening to even the most knowledgeable students of medicine. Many current publications try to get reader's attention by starting with shocking or gross facts; the fact that this book doesn't stop at the gross factor but goes on to provide sound science is a real plus. Great photos add to its appeal. It would be a great starting off point for independent research on traditional medicines. It could also be used to make the natural arguments for preservation of habitats and indigenous wisdom for tomorrow's researchers. http: //www.nsta.org/recommends/ViewProduct.aspxProductID=20325-- "NSTA Recommends"
While gleefully catering to readers who relish references to "snot rockets" and the "living layer of slime" on everyone's teeth, these informative guides also explain relevant chemical processes, medical rationales, and ecological functions in reasonably specific detail.-- "Series Made Simple; School Library Journal"