Originally published in 1979, The Care of the Sick is a detailed and comprehensive exploration of the emergence of modern nursing.

Beginning with primitive and early historical nursing, the book traces the development of nursing through the ages and covers a variety of key topics, including the rise of the trained nurse; the problems faced by nursing during its development as a profession; education and working conditions; the government and nursing; the economics of nursing; and how the image of nursing has changed over time.

Extensive and thorough, The Care of the Sick will appeal to those with an interest in the history of nursing, the history of medicine, and social history.