In the natural course of events; humans fall sick and die. The history of medicine bristles with attempts to find new and miraculous remedies; to work with and against nature to restore humans to health and well-being. In this book; Londa Schiebinger examines medicine and human experimentation in the Atlantic World; exploring the circulation of people; disease; plants; and knowledge between Europe; Africa; and the Americas. She traces the development of a colonial medical complex from the 1760s; when a robust experimental culture emerged in the British and French West Indies; to the early 1800s; when debates raged about banning the slave trade and; eventually; slavery itself. Massive mortality among enslaved Africans and European planters; soldiers; and sailors fueled the search for new healing techniques. Amerindian; African; and European knowledges competed to cure diseases emerging from the collision of peoples on newly established; often poorly supplied; plantations. But not all knowledge was equal. Highlighting the violence and fear endemic to colonial struggles; Schiebinger explores aspects of African medicine that were not put to the test; such as Obeah and vodou. This book analyzes how and why specific knowledges were blocked; discredited; or held secret.
#6385512 in Books 2014-08-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .25 x 6.00l; .34 #File Name: 1500885657108 pages
Review
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Two StarsBy lawxrather dull