A History of the Edinburgh School of Medicine Presented By Dr. John Raffensperger

Online, July 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The interest in medical dramas is apparent. People are fascinated by doctors, and why wouldn't they be? These are people who have vowed to spend their lives saving others. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do that. Not only because it is a selfless act, but because of the stress and pressure that comes with having a human life in your hands.

Cosimo Classics is proud to present two true short stories "Rab and his Friends" and "A Doctor of the Old School" in its just released book Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion.

The first short story, "Rab and his Friends," is about a young apprentice who watches a grueling surgery and is struck by the kindness of the attending physician. The second story, "A Doctor of the Old School," is about a Highland country doctor who devotes his life to caring for others. Both stories represent the kind of doctor who is trained at the Edinburgh School and the ideals taught there in the 18th and 19th century.

Dr. John Raffensperger, former surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and author of medical and fiction books, now has added "A Brief History of Edinburgh School of Medicine," to these two Scottish tales, offering a background of the authors and characters, as well as a perspective for both stories. He also further emphasizes how the Edinburgh principles of compassion advanced the science of Medicine, by stating:

"These short stories, should be required reading for every doctor. They will remind us that compassion and kindness are the cornerstones of our profession."

Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion with a Brief History of the Edinburgh School of Medicine is inspiring reading for medical professionals and aspiring medical students as well as fans of history and literature.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
JOHN RAFFENSPERGER, M.D. was a surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. He has authored surgical textbooks, a history of the Cook County Hospital, a collection of short stories, and a "surgical thriller." He currently lives in Sanibel Island, Florida

JOHN BROWN, M.D. (1810-1882) was a well-known Scottish doctor and writer from Edinburgh. He attended the medical school at the University of Edinburgh before becoming apprentice to James Syme at the Minto House Hospital. His experiences at the hospital influenced his writing, including "Rab and his Friends," the short stories in his book Horae Subsecivae, and others.

IAN MACLAREN (1850-1907) was the pen name of Highland-born John Watson. Watson studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh and at Tubingen in Germany. In addition to serving at the Parish of Logielmond in Perthshire and the Sefton Park Church in Liverpool, he was well known as a writer and speaker, culminating in several speaking tours in the United States. His works include "A Doctor of the Old School," Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush, and The Days of Auld Lang Syne.

TWO SCOTTISH TALES OF MEDICAL COMPASSION: Rab and His Friends & A Doctor of the Old School, with a Brief History of the Edinburgh School of Medicine
Cosimo Classics, June 2011, Literature/History
ISBN 978-1-61640-544-1
Paperback, 100 pages, $10.95 / £7.99 /€ 8.99

ABOUT COSIMO CLASSICS
COSIMO CLASSICS offers distinctive titles by the great authors and thinkers who have inspired, informed and engaged readers throughout the ages. For more Cosimo Classics titles, please visit cosimobooks.com.

Always available at online bookstores. Visit www.cosimobooks.com

BE INSPIRED, BE INFORMED