From pharmaceutical companies to acupuncture, an essential investigation of the constantly evolving relationship between mainstream Western medicine and quackery.
 
Reaching from the beginnings of scientific medicine in the nineteenth century through to the present, Sander L. Gilman examines the ever-shifting boundary between scientific medicine and quackery, asking if such a fixed boundary can actually exist within mainstream medical practice. Through detailed case studies—of stomach ulcers, eye disease, and acupuncture—Doc or Quack reveals the influence of pharmaceutical companies in determining the science of medical practice, the pros and cons of the increasing specialization in medical practice, and the murky issue of “race” in scientific medicine. This readable account covers medical practice from the Enlightenment to the present, offering a realistic view of health politics in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in the history and politics of Western medicine.