HUNAN HAND AND OTHER AILMENTS: Letters to the New England Journal of Medicine

by Shirley Blotnick--Ed. Moskow ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1987

A mildly amusing collection of peculiar correspondence received by the New England Journal of Medicine: purely for medical buffs. These letters are loosely grouped under such headings as ""Medispeak: Treating Chronic Language Deficiency"" (a toss-up between medicolegalese and tediously punning physicians); occupational injuries (lots here on musicians' problems, such as tennis elbow in a violinist's bowing arm); and ""It's Reigning Cats and Dog, et. al"" (extensive reporting on a bee sting in the mouth, sustained while motorcycle riding, for example). The heavy-handed jocularity is quickly tedious--somewhat better are the reports of such medical oddities as ""Hunan Hand,"" a painful skin reaction to chopping chili peppers. A decidedly mixed bag.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1987

Categories: NONFICTION