This Doc Was Really Nuts
Nuts! is a new documentary about John R. Brinkley, whose claim to fame was transplanting goat testicles into men in the 1920s.
How One Nightmarish Disease Was Eradicated
Guinea worm, scourge of the tropics, may be nearing its end.
19th-Century Nurses’ Fight to Battle Yellow Fever
With warnings that a shortage of the vaccine against the virus could spur on a new epidemic, yellow fever is again in the scientific spotlight.
Why We Make Doctors Get Licenses
We might question why barbers or florists need licenses. But almost everyone would agree that doctors ought to be licensed.
The Strange Tale of 19th-Century Quack Doctors
During the 19th century, quack “doctors” outnumbered legitimate ones three to one. The reasons people are attracted to quackery remain with us today.
Be Honest, Can You Really Tell Left from Right?
Laterality, or left-right orientation, takes years to master. A surprising percentage of adults struggle telling left from right, including some surgeons.
Anxiety and Treatment
Anxiety is on the rise in the general populace, says Will Hutton in this weekend’s Guardian.
Let’s Talk About Dying Well
Physicians and family members still have trouble talking candidly about dying and what it means to die well.
Why Did the “Female Viagra” Fail?
Marketers pitched "female viagra" as a win for gender equality. Why is the drug now called a "colossal failure?"
Dr. Nose: Disease-Detecting Animals
Belgian scientists are training rats to detect diseases. Other animals, including dogs, have a history of disease-detection.