Sister Kenny: The Woman Who Challenged the Doctors

By Victor Cohn

Book Overview

Sister Kenny was first published in 1976. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.

Sister Elizabeth Kenny, the Australian-born nurse, is remembered by thousands of grateful parents and grandparents of young polio patients, as well as others who were less personally affected, as the woman who successfully fought the medical profession to win acceptance of her techniques to combat the crippling effects of this disease.

In this biography Victor Cohn, a prize-winning science writer, details the life of Sister Kenny and her significant role in the history of medicine. It is an inspiring story and one which will be of particular interest to those of the present generation who are engaged in the movement for women's equality. Sister Kenny's struggle against the bitter opposition of many doctors to her concepts for the treatment of polio dramatized the then common attitude of male chauvinism on the part of the medical profession toward nurses.

The biography traces Sister Kenny's life from her birth in Australia, through her early nursing career in the bush, to her rise to prominence in America. Much of the narrative focuses on her confrontation with the medical establishment. Throughout, the author writes from an objective viewpoint, and in conclusion he assesses Sister Kenny's accomplishments.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0816657335
• ISBN13: 9780816657339
• Release Date: February 1976
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Worth getting a copy

This is an historical book about Elizabeth Kenny who was the Australian Nurse who came up with a treatment for Polio that really seemed to work. Elizabeth, and her controversial treatment, was never fully accepted by the medical community. And, that was unfortunate. This book tells of her "radical" treatment for polio survivors. It includes many pictures of polio patients as well descriptions of physical therapy and the "hot pack" treatments. It helps one understand what all polio survivors had to endure during the epidemics. Another good book on Sr. Kenny is the story of her life, "And They Shall Walk" which is, unfortunately, also out of print. But, many still exist and they are well worth the effort of locating to read or collect.