Book description
In the 16th century, when explorers travelled deep into the jungles
of South America in search of gold and spices, they brought back many
colourful tales of their adventures. None of these tales was more
astonishing, or caused more concern, than that of the mystical
properties of the substance with which the natives anointed their
darts and arrows. They described terrible agonies inflicted by 'the
flying death', caused by the magical arrow poison curare - their tales
speaking of the victim's 'staring eyes bulging out of their sockets
with terror', and of 'bellies rendered asunder'.So begins the
incredible true story of the discovery of one of the most important
substances in medical science. Curare was to become the cornerstone of
modern anaesthetics and in the hands of the most eminent naturalists
and scientists schooled in the Western enlightenment it went on to
provide the key to how we understand the human nervous system. It led
directly to a host of drugs as diverse as Prozac, beta-blockers, Botox
and diarrhoea pills - and more recently it has led to our
understanding of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Truly the equal
of such milestones as Fleming's discovery of penicillin and Jenner's
of vaccination, this is the story of bizarre research, outlandish
experiments and modern miracles; of cunning explorers wrestling with
giant reptiles in pursuit of specimens; of frighteningly deadly toxins
and incredible life-giving discoveries. You will never look at your
medicine bottle in the same way again...
Stanley Feldman is a leading light in the field of modern
anaesthetics, a former Professor of Anaesthetics at London University
and was appointed to the Imperial College School of Medicine. He is
the author of many books, papers and lectures on the subject. He is
also the author of Life Begins..., a positive guide to retirement, and
co-editor of the acclaimed Panic Nation with Vincent Marks.
