An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine (Dover Books on Biology)

The one book every physician should read on how to think about the practice of medicine, and the science and empiricism behind it. As relevant in 2017 as it was 150 years ago, and the translation by Henry Copley Greene is a piece of art in itself.

I first read large chunks of this in French Lit half a century ago. Time has managed to catch up with Bernard (though the French have always honored the work). The newest thinking on immunity tends more in Bernard's direction than Pasteur's and I just wanted to read the whole thing. I assumed the translator would be more cognizant of French medical terms than I am, so the translation makes sense in saving labor with a techical dictionary.

Bernard reveals the foundations of the scientific method and experimental medicine by writing this tour de force based on his own outstanding experience and achievement in the area. Arguably the best book so far on these topics. Every medical student and doctoral student in the life sciences would benefit immensely by studying Bernard's critical and creative thinking in this one little book.

nothing worth reading

In 1950 I took my Ph.D. preliminary examination. It consisted of four questions, with half a day to answer each question. A half hour after beginning the exam, I asked for a typewriter. The first question on the exam was "It has been said that dead anatomy teaches nothing. Who said this and what did he mean?" I wrote for three hours. I knew it was Claude Bernard and I agreed with him completely. This little book is so important in my mind that when recently writing my autobiography with the help of my wife I recalled the above story and had to buy the book again. Don Bucklin Ph.D.

As Bernard puts it: "I think I was the first to urge the belief that animals have really two environments: a milieu extérieur in which the organism is situated, and a milieu intérieur in which the tissue elements live. The living organism does not really exist in the milieu extérieur (the atmosphere it breathes, salt or fresh water if that is the element) but in the liquid milieu intérieur formed by the circulating organic liquid which surrounds and bathes all the tissue elements; this is the lymph or plasma, the liquid part of the blood which, in the higher animals, is diffused through the tissues and forms the ensemble of the intercellular liquids and is the basis of all local nutrition and the common factor of all elementary exchanges. A complex organism should be looked upon as an assemblage of simple organisms which are the anatomical elements that live in the liquid milieu intérieur."This book is a wonderful book for the biology student or for anyone interested in how medicinal studies and biology "began." Claude Bernard introduces his idea of homeostasis in this book and he explains how and why it works, and how humans, as well as animals, could not live without such an idea.I recommend reading of this book. It kept me busy for hours and I didn't want to put it down. Five stars for excellence, intelligence, and much much more. Read it for yourself and you be the jugde!