Diseased: The A to Z of Illnesses, Medicine, and Important People Through History

Our understanding of diseases have dramatically changed over human history. Early civilisations believed health and disease were directly caused by the gods. This is why priests and priestesses were also healers and doctors.

The ancient Greeks introduced the four humours theory, namely that the body was composed of four fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Disease and illness were caused by imbalances. Treatment was to rebalance these fluids.

Our modern understanding of the human body and diseases began in the 18th century. Scientific observation, theories, and experimentation provided the basis to learn about cancer, bacteria, viruses, medications, surgery, etc..

Every disease has a story behind it. This is a book dedicated to finding those stories. Some are funny, some are sad, some are triumphant, and some are tragic, but all are true.