Book excerpt: This detailed study of military medical practice on the western frontiers of the Roman army aims to discover whether legionary and auxilliary units were treated differently, whether local civilians were also treated by military doctors and if the soldier's location impacted on his medical treatment. At the heart of this wide-ranging study is an analysis of medical instruments discovered at frontier sites, such as Housesteads, Wallsend, Carnuntum, Caerleon, Xanten, Mainz and many others. Patricia Anne Baker examines the scientific function and production of these implements whilst also discussing what they (and written sources) reveal about Roman attitudes towards illness and the nature of physical examinations and medical care, especially among soldiers at the edges of Roman influence. The impact on local populations of the Roman presence and living on a frontier is also considered. Includes a catalogue of forts, sites and implements.