We take a lot for granted about modern medicine, but if you read about the grisly stuff behind the advances of medicine, you couldn't help but think how lucky we are. It's fascinating, often really funny and the grisly bits are unbelievable! Kill or cure is a good way to describe the efforts of the early surgeons who performed operations. Searching for cures for some frightening diseases was often pure guesswork. Did you know: . The first blood transfusion was between two dogs. not a bad idea! . Cholera made the skin shrivel and turn blue. best avoided then! . In the middle ages there were secret recipes for using snail slime for burns and hedgehog grease for sore throats. maybe not! . Chewing willow bark eased pain and symptoms of malaria. now that did work! Get ready to learn about toe-curling treatments (some of which are still used today); an awesome mix of successful stuff and wildly experimental failures. It all adds up to a grisly, funny."no way did that really happen", read! | Grisly Medicine by John Farndon, Picture Books | Indigo Chapters