From ancient Egypt, India and China, smallpox spread around the world. It defeated armies, relieved sieges, killed emperors, played havoc with dynasties, helped to establish Buddhism in Japan, and at about the time of Muhammad's birth it stopped Christian Abyssinians from capturing a still pagan Mecca. When individual epidemics were killing tens of thousands in the early 18th century, the adoption of the 'folk-medicine' practice of inoculating with smallpox itself gave some protection to those inoculated - but at the cost of spreading the infection. In the 1790s Edward Jenner's brilliant experiments in 'vaccinating' with cowpox brought hope, not only of saving lives but also of eventually eradicating the disease. The practice spread round the world astonishingly fast. It took over two hundred years to achieve world-wide eradication; and it remains a magnificent and so far a unique scientific and political achievement. But now smallpox is one of the first choices for international bio-terrorism. This book tells the fascinating and frightening story of this terrifying disease, from the pustules on the mummy of Ramses V to current anxieties - a brilliant mixture of history, science and politics.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This book is thoroughly researched and eminently readable. ..the definitive work on the subject. Highly recommended." R.M. Mullner, University of Illinois at Chicago, CHOICE
"The authors of this book are just the right people to produce an accurate and extremely interesting account of the history of this remarkable disease... The last chapter provides an accurate and up-to-date description of the potential threat of the use of smallpox as a bioterrorist weapon." Frank Fenner, Professor Emeritus and Visiting Fellow, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Senior author of Smallpox and its Eradication
"A timely and terrifying tale that allows us to hope that mankind's worst virus has passed. Ian and Jenifer Glynn have written a gripping history of smallpox, the horrific plague of mankind, from the first millennium BC until its virtual eradication at the end of the Twentieth Century." Brenda Maddox, author of Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA
"The Life and Death of Smallpox, provides the best and most interesting published account of the history of the world's most serious pestilence. Thoroughly researched and eminently readable, the book traces the history of smallpox from its earliest origins, more than 3000 years ago, to the status of smallpox virus in 2004." Donald A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., Former Director of the Global Program for Smallpox Eradication, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, Center for Biodiversity, University of Pittsburgh, Dean Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
"Nevertheless the book is a useful addition to the literature on the history of human infectious disease and the human social response to it. It certainly should be part of the library of any scientist or historian interested specifically in the history of smallpox but also those concerned with the more general problem of human adaptation to disease and the social mechanisms available to human societies to combat disease." American Journal of Human Biology, Donald J. Ortner, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution
"Richly illustrated with photos and drawings, the book also presents a detailed history of the many battles to isolate, control and eventually inoculate individuals." Science and Theology News
"...the Glynns have produced a highly readable account of one of history's most feared diseases." The Quarterly Review of Biology, Jonathon Erlen, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
"...a fascinating account..." - Teaching History, Michael Salevouris, Webster University --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
"The authors of this book are just the right people to produce an accurate and extremely interesting account of the history of this remarkable disease... The last chapter provides an accurate and up-to-date description of the potential threat of the use of smallpox as a bioterrorist weapon." Frank Fenner, Professor Emeritus and Visiting Fellow, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Senior author of Smallpox and its Eradication
"A timely and terrifying tale that allows us to hope that mankind's worst virus has passed. Ian and Jenifer Glynn have written a gripping history of smallpox, the horrific plague of mankind, from the first millennium BC until its virtual eradication at the end of the Twentieth Century." Brenda Maddox, author of Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA
"The Life and Death of Smallpox, provides the best and most interesting published account of the history of the world's most serious pestilence. Thoroughly researched and eminently readable, the book traces the history of smallpox from its earliest origins, more than 3000 years ago, to the status of smallpox virus in 2004." Donald A. Henderson, M.D., M.P.H., Former Director of the Global Program for Smallpox Eradication, Professor of Medicine and Public Health, Center for Biodiversity, University of Pittsburgh, Dean Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
"Nevertheless the book is a useful addition to the literature on the history of human infectious disease and the human social response to it. It certainly should be part of the library of any scientist or historian interested specifically in the history of smallpox but also those concerned with the more general problem of human adaptation to disease and the social mechanisms available to human societies to combat disease." American Journal of Human Biology, Donald J. Ortner, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution
"Richly illustrated with photos and drawings, the book also presents a detailed history of the many battles to isolate, control and eventually inoculate individuals." Science and Theology News
"...the Glynns have produced a highly readable account of one of history's most feared diseases." The Quarterly Review of Biology, Jonathon Erlen, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
"...a fascinating account..." - Teaching History, Michael Salevouris, Webster University --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Book Description
This is an engaging and fascinating story of a conditional human success story. Smallpox has been one of the most devastating scourges of humanity throughout recorded history, and it is the only human illness to have been eradicated, though polio may soon follow it to official extinction through human agency. However, while smallpox is officially extinct in nature, our fears that stocks of smallpox virus may return as a weapon of bioterrorists have led to the stockpiling of vaccine, and continuing vigilance, even though the official victory over smallpox is now 15 years old. The Life and Death of Smallpox presents the entire engaging history of our struggle and ultimate victory over one of our oldest and worst enemies. The story of the campaign to track down and eradicate the virus, throughout the world--the difficulties, setbacks, and the challenges successfully met--is a highlight of a fascinating book, but we can't be confident of the ending. The final chapter of the book clearly and authoritatively explains the current status of the threat, from the deliberate release of smallpox or other potential agents of biological terrorism.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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