· Many originated from Europe · Most of them are white · Many gave their name to the therapy · Many inventions are relatively recent · Many inventors are not doctors · Most inventors claim to have found a panacea · Many adhere to vitalistic ideas · Almost all of the inventors are fully convinced of their invention · Inventions are often based on personal experience · The inventions tend to be implausible even by the standards of their time The book explores all these themes and, where appropriate, contrasts them with the corresponding situation in conventional medicine.