Nurturing Children: A History of Pediatrics

(Hardback)

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This history of the evolution of paediatrics from the beginning of recorded civilization examines chronologically the medical and societal antecedents of 20th-century child care. Although the term "paediatrics" is modern, the book explores the antecedents that facilitated the evolution of paediatric care as a separate discipline and a unique science. These antecedents include ancient manuscripts and the writings of acknowledged medical classicists, and the works of physicians in the East who recorded the medicine of the ancients, their own original theories, clinical observations and experience, and exported their wisdom to the West. The book's point of view demonstrates that healers from the beginning of recorded time understood the unique physiology of the infant and the distinct nutritional and medical needs of the growing child. Despite this recognition, centuries of poorly-applied medical principles prevailed in the general population as adjuncts to societal conditions that included war, pestilence, ignorance of the pathophysiology of disease, and the exploitation of labour. In this milieu, suffering was universal. Paediatrics came into its own when richer, more stable societies had the time, energy and resources to provide for the most vulnerable of their subjects. Motives included economic self-interest as well as altruistic demand for social reform.

Reviews

"Nurturing Children: A History of Pediatrics is a fascinating look at the world of pediatric medical practices from archeological record to modern times. There are few books that cover the history of pediatric medicine and none that provide as broad an overview of the field as this title does. The breadth of coverage is one of its strongest assets of this title....The text contains a plethora of facts about people and medical texts, while also including interesting facts and asides, some more graphic that others, that graphically illustrate historical points....While the audience for this title is definitely those in the medical professions or students of medicine, there is plenty to interest the layperson....This title would be a highly recommended addition to any health science collection and would also have an audience in research institutions not affiliated with medical schools."-E-Streams
"A profound respect for history and an uncanny ability to elucidate the relevance of the past to the present permeate the entire text. It is a magnificent achievement. It is by far the most complete history of Pediatrics and by far the most entertaining."-Claude C. Roy, O.C., M.D., F.R.C.P. Hospital Sainte-Justine
"A work of manifest love--for sick children, for those who care for them, and for a better future for all children."-Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics Georgetown University
"Awesome...humbling...a masterpiece...It would have taken me a century to do this and half as well."-Arnold H. Einhorn Professor of Pediatrics Georgetown University Children's Medical Center
"Dr. Colon weaves an increasingly complex pattern chronicling the painstakingly slow evolution from superstition and plain medical nonsense to the accumulation of a growing body of insights in the actual causes and remedies of child maladies. Dr. Colon accomplishes this task in a lucid and concise way, combining the knowledge and compassion of the practicing physician and teacher of Pediatrics with the broadness of view and scientific rigor of the historian. His work will be of help not only to the general historian but also will be a useful resource in the teaching of Pediatrics."-Thomas Reichman Assistant Director International Monetary Fund
"The sheer amount of energy and endurance that were required to produce this book is stunning in and of itself. But research stamina alone does not make for a good book. Good books require passion. And it is clear from the opening pages that Angel Colon is as deeply passionate a historian as he is a healer. This is a very good book."-Jonathan Scott Holloway Assistant Professor of History and Ethnic Studies University of California, San Diego
Apart from being most readable, and valuable for reference, this work should be useful for teaching purposes since it illustrates and locates such a variety of source material. Not only medical students but also those from other disciplines, including the social sciences, will find here analysis and samples of pediatric writings that will inspire them to furthur research. The Colons are to be congratulated for tackling such a diffuse topic and thus making a general history of pediatrics once again available.-Bulletin of History of Medicine
In providing us with this exceptional historical perspective on children, family, and community, the authors have written elegantly and extensively on a subject that is truly mind broadening.-European Business Review
In this ambitious and highly readable book, A.R. Colon and P.A. Colon have done an admirable job of extracting the essential treads of pediatric medicine from a mass of sources dating from the beginning of recorded history, and provide fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of child health....required reading for anyone concerned with the politics of modern medicine.-JAMA
Nurturing Children: A History of Pediatrics is a fascinating look at the world of pediatric medical practices from archeological record to modern times. There are few books that cover the history of pediatric medicine and none that provide as broad an overview of the field as this title does. The breadth of coverage is one of its strongest assets of this title....The text contains a plethora of facts about people and medical texts, while also including interesting facts and asides, some more graphic that others, that graphically illustrate historical points....While the audience for this title is definitely those in the medical professions or students of medicine, there is plenty to interest the layperson....This title would be a highly recommended addition to any health science collection and would also have an audience in research institutions not affiliated with medical schools.-E-Streams
Scholars will find it useful if they need a brief synopsis of the accomplishments and beliefs of significant pediatric practitioners in history of if they need a brief overview of children's health and medicine in a particular area of the world or during a particular era.-ISIS
This work represents authoritative academic scholarship at its best. It is outstanding in its artful combination of cross-cultural scope and depth of presentation in delineating the emergence of a unique scientific body of knowledge from its historical roots, focusing on the contributions of individuals to that rich heritage. The work is both interesting and informative and employs a very reader-friendly narrative style....An essential acquisition for all libraries serving the educational needs of physicians as well as other health care disciplines involved in care for children. Graduate students through professionals.-Choice
"Apart from being most readable, and valuable for reference, this work should be useful for teaching purposes since it illustrates and locates such a variety of source material. Not only medical students but also those from other disciplines, including the social sciences, will find here analysis and samples of pediatric writings that will inspire them to furthur research. The Colons are to be congratulated for tackling such a diffuse topic and thus making a general history of pediatrics once again available."-Bulletin of History of Medicine
"In providing us with this exceptional historical perspective on children, family, and community, the authors have written elegantly and extensively on a subject that is truly mind broadening."-European Business Review
"In this ambitious and highly readable book, A.R. Colon and P.A. Colon have done an admirable job of extracting the essential treads of pediatric medicine from a mass of sources dating from the beginning of recorded history, and provide fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of child health....required reading for anyone concerned with the politics of modern medicine."-JAMA
"Scholars will find it useful if they need a brief synopsis of the accomplishments and beliefs of significant pediatric practitioners in history of if they need a brief overview of children's health and medicine in a particular area of the world or during a particular era."-ISIS
"This work represents authoritative academic scholarship at its best. It is outstanding in its artful combination of cross-cultural scope and depth of presentation in delineating the emergence of a unique scientific body of knowledge from its historical roots, focusing on the contributions of individuals to that rich heritage. The work is both interesting and informative and employs a very reader-friendly narrative style....An essential acquisition for all libraries serving the educational needs of physicians as well as other health care disciplines involved in care for children. Graduate students through professionals."-Choice

Author Bio

A.R. COLN is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Georgetown University School of Medicine. His career in academic medicine spans over thirty years, during which time he taught pediatrics and lectured nationally and internationally on pediatric diseases and child development and health. He has authored several books on pediatric topics, including one on pediatric aphorisms, The Boke of Children. P.A. COLN is a freelance writer who has collaborated with A.R. Coln on several publications of pediatric interest.