The Mystery of the Exploding Teeth: And Other Curiosities from the History of Medicine Paperback – Big Book, November 12, 2019

This book is a fun read if curiosities of medical science interest you. The book is comprised of stories taken from medical journals and writings from the 1700s through the early 1900s and explores some of the more bizarre happens in medical science. The author tries to root out fact from fiction, but it can be hard at times.Overall, a very good read, although it is better in sections than all at once.

...as I'd thought.

Find a place on my bookshelf. I delved further into this subject pursuing my interest in civil war battlefield injuries, and was taken into subjects that ere truly remarkable, astonishing, unbelievably frightening -, and that’s putting it lightly!I would have given it ***** if any of these cures would have exorcised my complaints!

We had one of those in my hometown, with all kinds of gross looking things that were part of human bodies. It was fascinating to me as a child. This book is similar. The only problem with it is that there is really no cohesive narrative. It's just brief descriptions of strangeness. I was hoping for a little more somehow, but I still read the whole book. I haven't taken away any stars either. I think the author delivered on their promise and I just expected too much.

When a caller on Science Friday mentioned the book, I immediately bought it, because I like this topic: medical oddity. I overall liked the book, though seems overly weighted with stories about strange outcomes of people swallowing stuff and sticking things in places it don't belong. Amusing causal read, but left me with the feeling that there must be better stories than this. The editor should have pushed back on the author for more quality and diversity of case types.

The stories have given me some chuckles, interest, education and things to talk about with friends who might be annoyed with me constantly telling them of the medical stories but I enjoy them. It's a great read, even if you're not a medical professional. None of it is particularly difficult to read and even the things that I'm not sure what it means, the author explains in simpler terms.

Liked the interesting case histories chosen. A bit annoyed by author's snarkiness over 18th-19th century medical procedures (like bleeding) that are clearly deemed useless to us now, but were honest attempts to 'do no harm' in their time. (believe it or not, there is one reason to 'bleed' a patient--when kidney and other ailments lead to an excess of red cells that crowd out other blood factors)

But it makes great bathroom reading! My only criticism: the book ends rather abruptly. I would have like to see some kind of wrap up, some tie-in to modern medicine or final thoughts on the meaning to be found in all these bizarre incidents.

I bought this as I'm a doctor and fancied reading something medically related other than a journal or textbook. I wasn't disappointed - fascinating read for those medical and those not! It's like a horrible histories book for adults!The chapters can drag a bit towards the end - you're glad when the topic of the chapter changes.Really funny, and at times shocking. The author has put a lot of time, thought and effort into the book and it shows.Would recommend.

Absolutely fascinating. Some chapters show that there were clever folks about and others make you wonder how we have survived as a human race with all the beliefs and crackpot ideas that were around. I've been driving my wife potty saying "listen to this"! Wonderful book.

From exploding gnashers to a regiments worth of wounds on one soldier, the strange,unusual and blatant hoaxes can be found here

Alongside the amusing / amazing stories, the author's dry humour makes it a really funny book. Some grisly bits, but definitely recommended.

Really very funny and informative. Chuckled and winced from start to finish. Highly recommend for a light read (if you're not squeamish).