Notice bibliographique
- Notice
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Sherman, Irwin William (1933-....)
Titre(s) : The power of plagues [Texte imprimé] / Irwin W. Sherman,...
Édition : 2nd ed.
Publication : Washington : ASM press, copyright 2017
Description matérielle : 1 vol. (VIII-494 p.) : ill. ; 26 cm
Note(s) : Notes bibliogr. Index
The Power of Plagues presents a rogues' gallery of epidemic-causing microorganisms
placed in the context of world history. Author Irwin W. Sherman introduces the microbes
that caused these epidemics and the people who sought (and still seek) to understand
how diseases and epidemics are managed. What makes this book especially fascinating
are the many threads that Sherman weaves together as he explains 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. And the Anopheles mosquito and malaria aided General George Washington
during the American Revolution. Sadly, when microbes have inflicted death and suffering,
people have sometimes responded by invoking discrimination, scapegoating, and quarantine,
often unfairly, against races or classes of pepople presumed to be the cause of the
epidemic. Pathogens are not the only stars of this book. Many scientists and physicians
who toiled to understand, treat, and prevent these plagues are also featured. Sherman
tells engaging tales of the development of vaccines, anesthesia, antiseptics, and
antibiotics. This arsenal has dramatically reduced the suffering and death caused
by infectious diseases, but these plague protectors are imperfect, due to their side
effects or attenuation and because microbes almost invariably develop resistance to
antimicrobial drugs. The Power of Plagues provides a sobering reminder that plagues
are not a thing of the past. Along with the persistence of tuberculosis, malaria,
river blindness, and AIDS, emerging and remerging epidemics continue to confound global
and national public health efforts. West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and Ebola and Zika
viruses are just some of the newest rogues to plague humans. The argument that civilization
has been shaped to a significant degree by the power of plagues is compelling, and
The Power of Plagues makes the case in an engaging and informative way that will be
satisfying to scientists and non-scientists alike. -- from back cover
Sujet(s) : Maladies infectieuses -- Histoire
Épidémies -- Histoire
Indice(s) Dewey :
616.9 (23e éd.) = Autres maladies (médecine)
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : ISBN 9781683670001. - ISBN 1683670000 (br.)
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb453315912
Notice n° :
FRBNF45331591
(notice reprise d'un réservoir extérieur)
Table des matières : 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.
