Modern medicine is such a marvel that it's hard to imagine how deadly it was to live in the past. Sometimes it was hard to stay alive, especially in the care of an ancient doctor. Readers will learn about deadly diseases such as the many plagues that killed off millions in the Middle Ages. They'll discover just how little people knew about the spread of illness and its prevention. Historical artwork supports the intriguing, gruesome details, and will make readers thankful they live in the modern world.