From philosophy, psychology and religion to biology, medicine, physics and mathematics, our How the World Works series presents fundamental areas of knowledge in the most stimulating, clear and accessible way, with brief biographies of the key figures involved and wonderful full-colour illustrations. For thousands of years, people have sought to overcome the diseases and disorders of the body, with methods ranging from incantations, talismans, and herbal cures to antibiotics, vaccines, and organ transplants. In a fascinating narrative, this book charts our remarkable progress along the road of medical discovery, describing the key developments and breakthroughs in our understanding of our own bodies. Topics include: Historical models of the body and disease The role of dissection in medical discovery Plagues and pandemics throughout history Germ theory and contagion Scarificators, leeches, maggots, and other nasty treatments Nature's pharmacopoeia