Dictionary of Medical Folklore

First published in 1979, Carol Ann Rinzler's "Dictionary of Medical Folklore" provides a nearly complete collection of our medical myths, beliefs, and delusions, from acne to zinc oxide. Often, they are fascinating. For instance, most people have read a mystery in which a corpse's nails keep growing after death; according to Rinzler, that's absolutely false: the cuticles shrink, making the nails merely look longer. I was also pleased to learn that chocolate does not cause acne, which would have made my adolescence a little less argumentative. There are a few items that have become outdated as medical research rolls on, but on the whole, this is a worthwhile book to have in your library, to help answer trivia questions or do research for stories.