leigh_reidelberger's review
5.0
This book was two of my favorite things at once- the story of a man whose museum has always left me in awe and wonder penned by one of my very favorite poets, Cristine O'Keefe Aptowicz.
I had read reviews that were less than favorable regarding this book- that Aptowicz had taken liberties with her narrative or that she was giving specifics to portions of his life that were previously unknown- to the naysayers, I say: whatever. Maybe she did take liberties, but she took them with a deft hand. She shows her literary skill in writing this story. A book on Thomas Mutter could easily come out long winded or painfully dry when describing the medical community and the practices of the times. Aptowicz ensures his story is never boring.
Prior to reading Dr. Mutter's Marvels, all I really knew about him was there was a museum bearing his name that is in my bucket list of places to visit. I had no idea he was such an incredible person. His story is almost too good to be true- a man whose true passion lies in helping others and continuing to learn and improve upon his already vast knowledge. His advancements within the medical world are really quite astounding. Dr. Mutter was crucial in introducing plastic surgery to the United States. He helped usher in the concept of clean, sterile work environments. He spoke passionately on the importance of patient care. He championed the wide use of anesthesia. All of this from *one* man.
Much thanks to Aptowicz for bringing Dr. Mutter's story to life and promoting his legacy.
I had read reviews that were less than favorable regarding this book- that Aptowicz had taken liberties with her narrative or that she was giving specifics to portions of his life that were previously unknown- to the naysayers, I say: whatever. Maybe she did take liberties, but she took them with a deft hand. She shows her literary skill in writing this story. A book on Thomas Mutter could easily come out long winded or painfully dry when describing the medical community and the practices of the times. Aptowicz ensures his story is never boring.
Prior to reading Dr. Mutter's Marvels, all I really knew about him was there was a museum bearing his name that is in my bucket list of places to visit. I had no idea he was such an incredible person. His story is almost too good to be true- a man whose true passion lies in helping others and continuing to learn and improve upon his already vast knowledge. His advancements within the medical world are really quite astounding. Dr. Mutter was crucial in introducing plastic surgery to the United States. He helped usher in the concept of clean, sterile work environments. He spoke passionately on the importance of patient care. He championed the wide use of anesthesia. All of this from *one* man.
Much thanks to Aptowicz for bringing Dr. Mutter's story to life and promoting his legacy.
mamareafs's review
5.0
Having been to the Mutter Museum it was very interesting to read the back story.
carstensena's review
4.0
Compelling personalities (Mutter foremost among them), coupled with amazing medical history and lively, excited writing. What a world!
thecozyrogue's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Terminal illness
Minor: Slavery
amies808's review
3.0
Immensely readable, although rather meandering -- sometimes the thread of a topic would be picked up, only to be dropped after two pages and never brought up again. I was particularly confused by the constant assertions of acrimony between Mutter and Meigs with nothing to really back them up. I disliked the misleading title; I assumed this would be about the people behind Mutter's famed specimens, but instead it was about his life. Which is fine, but then it would also go on tangents about Meigs's beliefs or Mutter's students, and I would've rather learned more about his wife. I really enjoyed the writing style, but felt it needed a stronger eye for editing.
kblincoln's review
5.0
Dr Thomas Mutter was a Philadelphia Surgeon in the time straddling the non-use of anesthesia and the use of anesthesia in surgery in the United States.
He was a dude. And this book is an utterably readable, interesting, and horrifying account of some of the major medical developments and political struggles in Philadelphia at the time right before the Civil War.
So Dr. Mutter is that dude who collected grotesque human abnormalities, stuck them in pickling jars or made plaster casts, and then used them as props in his medical classes at Jefferson Medical College. After he died, he donated the whole shebang and it became this very gruesome but cool museum my father took me to in elementary school.
So when I saw this book, I was all over it. My usual caveats: I am a lit major and I tend to like science stories that filter the science through human relationships.
This book does that admirably. We get Mutter's early life and struggle as a dandified perfectionist newcomer in the old boys society of Philadelphia medicine. We get his professional struggles with colleagues over the then-controversial topics of whether surgeons can spread communicable disease (should they wash their hands? No? They can just wear the same blood-spattered jacket for every patient that day?) and whether surgery should be done with anesthesia (need an extra three guys to hold down the leg amputation patient so he won't thrash around? But using anesthesia means the surgeon can't gauge their surgery by the screams and moans).
Dr. Mutter comes off as a crazy-ambidextrously skilled surgeon with more than the usual concern with pre- and after- care for his patients. He was forward-thinking, and entirely devoted to his profession in this book. I couldn't help feeling sympathetic and grateful as the book describes one time he had to perform a cleft palate/lip surgery and spent hours beforehand massaging the poor man's face to help prepare and familiarize the patient's flesh before surgery. Then gave him a few sips of wine and had at him.
Gruesome and horrifying and very educational. This book makes you thankful you live in the era of anesthesia!
He was a dude. And this book is an utterably readable, interesting, and horrifying account of some of the major medical developments and political struggles in Philadelphia at the time right before the Civil War.
So Dr. Mutter is that dude who collected grotesque human abnormalities, stuck them in pickling jars or made plaster casts, and then used them as props in his medical classes at Jefferson Medical College. After he died, he donated the whole shebang and it became this very gruesome but cool museum my father took me to in elementary school.
So when I saw this book, I was all over it. My usual caveats: I am a lit major and I tend to like science stories that filter the science through human relationships.
This book does that admirably. We get Mutter's early life and struggle as a dandified perfectionist newcomer in the old boys society of Philadelphia medicine. We get his professional struggles with colleagues over the then-controversial topics of whether surgeons can spread communicable disease (should they wash their hands? No? They can just wear the same blood-spattered jacket for every patient that day?) and whether surgery should be done with anesthesia (need an extra three guys to hold down the leg amputation patient so he won't thrash around? But using anesthesia means the surgeon can't gauge their surgery by the screams and moans).
Dr. Mutter comes off as a crazy-ambidextrously skilled surgeon with more than the usual concern with pre- and after- care for his patients. He was forward-thinking, and entirely devoted to his profession in this book. I couldn't help feeling sympathetic and grateful as the book describes one time he had to perform a cleft palate/lip surgery and spent hours beforehand massaging the poor man's face to help prepare and familiarize the patient's flesh before surgery. Then gave him a few sips of wine and had at him.
Gruesome and horrifying and very educational. This book makes you thankful you live in the era of anesthesia!
feralreader's review
4.0
Dr. Mütter (the umlaut was an affectation) was brilliant, contributed greatly to his field and lived a fascinating life. But the man was also *delightful*. You have to meet him.
beth_menendez's review
4.0
Absolutely fantastic story of a doctor who brought so very much to early medicine. It is a fascinating look at what surgery was like before anesthesia. So interesting. Go read it now. Then take a field trip to the Museum in Philadelphia. I myself cannot wait to do just that.