Miracle at Coney Island

How a Sideshow Doctor Saved Thousands of Babies and Transformed American Medicine

De: Claire Prentice

Narrado por: Coleen Marlo

How did thousands of premature infants come to be exhibited at America's most popular amusement park?

In Miracle at Coney Island: How a Sideshow Doctor Saved Thousands of Babies and Transformed American Medicine, Claire Prentice uncovers the incredible true story of Martin Couney, the "incubator doctor."

Couney ran his incubator facility for premature babies at Coney Island from 1903 to 1943 and set up similar exhibits at World's Fairs and amusement parks across America, and in London, Paris, Mexico and Brazil.

Couney's techniques were advanced for the time and his facility was expensive to run. But he didn't charge the parents of the preemies a penny; instead the public paid to see them. He claimed to have a survival rate of 85 percent. By contrast, most mainstream doctors in the early part of the 20th century regarded premature babies as "weaklings" and did little or nothing to save them.

Prentice's meticulous research unravels the mystery of Couney's origins, and reveals that the "incubator doctor" was not all that he seemed. She brings one of the most extraordinary stories in American medicine to life through interviews with Couney's former "incubator babies."

©2016 Claire Prentice (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Great history

Brought new light to medical history in views of how companionate one must Be or to go to great lengths for there time to show the need for something that can save lives. I liked this book because it makes u want to be there.. the only thing to me that was missing was could anyone look to the doctors passed before he came to this country ?

What is Ethical

What I found intriguing in this book are the ideas of ethical behavior, social responsibility, and how questions of life are challenged.

The beginnings of an incredible field

It was good to learn about the history of neonatology and how just a simple instrument to keep these fragile patients alive was brought to popularity and success by a side show entrepreneur! Despite who he was, the contributions he made to make sure fragile premature infants survive is grand! Bravo to the author for doing such investigative work and telling the story!

Amazing story!!

I loved this all the information was fantastic to know! Hard to believe that this man saved so many babies! I was a preemie myself in 1954! If not for his work and a lot of prayers I wouldn't have lived!

The story itself. What an amazing man.

Can't say anything negative. Good journalism. As author mentioned,It would be so so interesting,so speak to Martin Kohen, but even with out personal interview,I have enjoyed this story.