GENIUS WITH A SCALPEL: Harvey Cushing

by Justin F. Denzel ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 22, 1971

Father of modern neurosurgery with over 2000 brain tumor operations to his credit, Pulitzer Prizewinning biographer, consummate investigator, genuinely committed doctor, Cushing as nearly as anyone vindicates Denzel's projection of medical genius. His legacies are legion in such diverse fields as research, writing, teaching, public health care, book-collecting, hospital procedure; he was a skillful artist, illustrator of his own texts, and an all-around athlete until polyneuritis limited him to sedate croquet. Excerpts from his journals and prolific correspondence attest to the scope of his talents, his probing intensity, even his absentee love for his wife: after some fifteen years of courtship, ""meticulous"" Harvey married ""loyal"" Kate and fathered five children whom she reared alone when he was otherwise occupied -- e.g., in France treating World War I casualties (and barely escaping a court-martial for 'obliviousness to regulations'). Although Cushing the man is elusive in all the impassioned celebration of the dear and ultra-glorious physician, Mr. Denzel measures his contributions meaningfully -- also thoroughly, if the bibliography be counted a yardstick.

Pub Date: March 22, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Messner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION