A Sick History of Medicine: A Warts-And-All Book Full of Fun Facts and Disgusting Discoveries

Ages 5 to 8

A disgusting history of medicine through the ages from Dr. Jelena Poleksic, featuring hilarious illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz.

WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED. This revolting history of medicine through the ages by Jelena Poleksic is full of blood, guts, and gore!

If you don’t like going to the doctor, spare a thought for your ancestors. Got a headache? We can drill into your skull! Need to buy medicine? Can we recommend a dose of ground-up Egyptian mummy? Want to fight off diseases? Try carrying around one of your farts in a jar.

It’s well-known that to make advances in science you have to make a few mistakes along the way. In this hilarious history book kids will be whisked around the world—from ancient Rome to imperial China—to meet the medical innovators who pushed the boundaries of what was possible, with sometimes disastrous effects. They’ll learn about the use of leeches, maggot-therapy (as gross as it sounds), dancing plagues, public dissections, grave robbers, electric eel treatments, exploding teeth, and much more!

Written by a doctor, everything in this book has been scrupulously researched and readers will learn about the development of some of our greatest inventions, from vaccines to X-rays. Amusing illustrations by Ella Kasperowicz make this a book kids will want to return to again and again.

The vile sequel to the equally revolting A Stinky History of Toilets!

About the Author

Jelena Poleksic is a resident physician specializing in psychiatry with a passion for the history of medicine. She completed a graduate degree in the history and philosophy of science. You can find her on social media explaining the weirder aspects of medical history – @psychistorydoc.

Ella Kasperowicz, AKA Ellastrated, is a UK-based illustrator. She creates playful, relatable and modern information illustrations inspired by travel, mental health, and friendship. Ella also illustrated the previous book in the series, A Stinky History of Toilets.