Sketches from the history of medicine, ancient and modern An oration delivered before the Hunterian Society

** "Sketches from the History of Medicine, Ancient and Modern" by W. Sedgwick Saunders, is a journey through time, revealing how medicine emerged from our earliest attempts to ease suffering and understand the body. The story paints a picture of medicine’s origins, not just as a science, but as a key part of society and its evolution – particularly with medical practices. Beginning with humanity's first encounters with pain and illness, the narrative connects ancient rituals and beliefs to more modern medical ideas and highlights foundational traditions and figures, like Moses, exploring the bond between health, religious beliefs, and the structure of communities. **