?A rare and useful book of wide interest in a field too often dominated by esoterica. It combines the techniques of traditional, perceptive social, and intellectual history with an analytic approach to the material culture of the medical field.... An extensive bibliographic essay on the literary sources pertaining to medical instruments and an equally perceptive essay on collections of medical instruments enhance the value of this work. The book should be in collegiate and research libraries and in collections available to the general public for its keen insights into the evolution of medical practice.?-Choice
