BookIrwin W. Sherman.
Summary: This book presents an historical account of how plagues past and present have shaped the outcome of wars and altered the course of medicine, religion, education, feudalism, and science. Cholera gave birth to the field of epidemiology. The bubonic plague epidemic that began in 1346 led to the formation of universities in cities far from the major centers of learning (and hot spots of the Black Death) at that time. Pathogens are not the only stars of this book. Many scientists and physicians who toiled to treat and prevent these plagues are also featured. This edition also covers modern disease.
Contents:
The nature of plagues
Plagues, the price of being sedentary
Six plagues of antiquity
An ancient plague, the black death
A 21st century plague, AIDS
Typhus, a fever plague
Malaria, another fever plague
King cholera
Smallpox, the spotted plague
Preventing plagues: immunization
The plague protectors: antisepsis to antibiotics
The great pox syphilis
The people's plague: tuberculosis
Leprosy, the striking hand of God
Six plagues of Africa
Emerging and re-emerging plagues.