The Quest for Cortisone

A fascinating story of medical research that is largely focused on the work of Kendall and Hench, and very particularly on the involvement of the author's Mayo Clinic, in the drive to discover hormones and then to learn how to both synthesize and use them in medicine.Rooke is a good writer but he is terribly in need of a good editor. The book lacks focus and can't decide at times whether it wants to chronicle its ostensible topic or sing of the greatness of Mayo. It also suffers from not being clear as to its audience, it is written at a popular level, except that it assumes the reader has the knowledge of a physician. Symptoms are described in technical terms, effects and procedures assume working medical knowledge, and yet it meanders and spends considerable time discussing Kendall's hobbies and recounts the sort of anecdotes that anyone familiar with research scientists have come to dread. There is also a weird focus on extraneous topics such as Hemingway, and events of the day. As I stated earlier it needs a good editor.It is however a nice story of how research worked in the first half of the century and Rooke is a natural writer. So I would recommend it to a medically informed audience who wants some leisure reading on the important history of this topic. I will say without a doubt that it is a great light read for the workaholic physician.

Outstanding review of the discovery and early history of cortisone use. A must read for every physician who uses this drug to treat patients!!!

Reads very well. The Kindle edition is fine. BTW, the author, Dr. Rooke, is a fine Mayo physician.