Diseases : Finding the Cure

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9Mulcahy begins by outlining the earliest theories of medicine and introducing the early physicians. Each chapter in the rest of the book focuses on one pioneer in the field, a description of the medical breakthrough that each was responsible for, and the results produced by that discovery. James Lind, Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur, Paul Ehrlich, Frederick Banting, Alexander Fleming, and Jonas Salk are the scientists discussed. The author uses the margins of his text to provide clear definitions of terms and interesting sidebars. The black-and-white photographs and illustrations are well captioned. The afterword, dealing with AIDS, is a concise treatment of what the author calls the newest plague. This is a well-organized, useful, and readable treatment that captures the essence of scientific methodology.Sylvia V. Meisner, Allen Middle School, Greensboro, NC