A guide to genealogical resources for researching medical professionals in your family history, or tracing the medical histories of your ancestors. Despite burgeoning interest in all aspects of history and ancestry, medicine has rarely been considered from the point of view of family genealogy. This is the main purpose of Michelle Higgs's accessible and authoritative introduction to the subject. Assuming the reader has little prior knowledge of how or where to look for such information, Higgs traces the development of medical practice and patient care. She describes how attitudes to illnesses and disease have changed over time. In particular, she looks at the parts played in the system by doctors and nurses—at their role, training and places of work and she also looks at the patients and their experience of medicine in their day. Each section identifies the archives and records that the family historian can turn to, and discusses other potential sources, including the Internet. An invaluable guide, Tracing Your Medical Ancestors provides all the necessary information needed to gain insight into ancestors who worked in medicine or had a medical history.
