The book "The body as a machine" explores the historical process of medicalisation in Chilean society, mainly focusing on the labour force. It highlights the transformation of medicine from a private sphere concerned with individual care to a social phenomenon encompassing various collective dimensions. The book argues that the rise of the liberal oligarchic state, rural-urban migration, and the emergence of a professional medical elite contributed to the socialisation of medicine in Chile. This process involved the standardisation and regulation of the population through medical interventions and establishing a comprehensive healthcare system.