Overview

In this work, the author examines the interaction of wartime bureaucracy, the academic medical establishment, and home front civilians. Drawing on a wide range of archival and oral sources, Adams presents a fascinating - and often poignant - account of the difficult biomedical decisions which accompanied the introduction of penicillin during the Second World War. The author traces the effect of the wonder drug of 1943 on postwar American society. This work represents a useful volume for scholars in the areas of twentieth century history of medicine, social history, and history of public policy.

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9780820412849

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Reviews

Excellent primary research undergirds David Adams' lively narrative about the nation's bureaucratic control of penicillin use during World War II. The author sets his account thoughtfully within the cruel dilemma of how wisely to distribute scarce health resources, from insulin earlier, to organ transplants, kidney dialysis, and AZT today. The book will interest medical historians, ethicists, and policy makers, as well as general readers concerned about issues of medical care. (James Harvey Young, Professor Emeritus, Emory University) Doctor Adams has compiled a detailed and well documented account of the crucial years, and of the implications when similar situations occur again. (M. Weatherall, Medical History) Drawing on a wide range of archival and oral sources, Adams presents a fascinating - often poignant - account of the difficult biomedical decisions which accompanied the introduction of penicillin during the Second World War. (Bulletin of Science, Thechnology and Society)

Author Information

The Author: David P. Adams received his B.A. in History and Religion from Emory University, his M.A. in History from Washington University in St. Louis, and his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Florida. While studying in Florida, the author served as a Resource Faculty in the Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities, Columbus State Community College, in Columbus, Ohio.

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