Skeptical Salon: Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine & Murder...

• What we'll do
The Skeptical Salon is BACK for 2018! For February, we'll be reading Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution by Holly Tucker. One of our longer suggestions since there will be plenty of time to obtain and read this one, but it is full of INTRIGUE and MURDER! So that's fun.

From Goodreads:
Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution "A sharp-eyed exposé of the deadly politics, murderous plots, and cutthroat rivalries behind the first blood transfusions in seventeenth-century Europe.

"On a cold day in December 1667 the renegade physician Jean Denis transfused ten ounces of calf's blood into Antoine Mauroy, a madman. Several days and several transfusions later, Mauroy was dead and Denis was framed for murder. A riveting and wide-reaching history, Blood Work shows how blood transfusion became swept up in personal vendettas, international intrigues, and the war between science and superstition. In a foreshadowing of today's stem cell and cloning debates, proponents saw transfusion as a long-awaited cure to deadly illnesses, while others worried that science was toying with forces of nature, perhaps even paving the way for monstrous hybrid creatures. Taking us from the highest ranks of society to the lowest, Holly Tucker introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters, all ruthless contenders in the battle over transfusion. Finally, in a feat of historical research, she reveals the true identities of Mauroy's murderers—and their motivations to kill."

• What to bring
If you have one, bring your copy of the book for the inevitable moment we need a reference during the discussion. There's always a table for food, so bring any snacks or drinks you'd like to share.

• Important to know
For those who have never attended a Skeptical Salon, it is merely recommended that you read (or at least start) the book so you are not bored while the rest of us discuss it. The Salon is held in a private residence, so please refrain from arriving early to allow them time to get home from work and prepare for your arrival. The home also has a cat.