Plagues and Poxes: The Impact of Human History on Epidemic Disease (Paperback)

~ M.D. Alfred Jay Bollet (Author) "ALL EPIDEMICS OF DEADLY DISEASES IN HUMAN HISTORY have been called plagues to stress how devastating these outbreaks are..." (more)
Key Phrases: mosquito theory, yellow fever patients, inhalational anthrax, New York, United States, Civil War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From The New England Journal of Medicine

Alfred Jay Bollet is a distinguished academic rheumatologist who has chaired the department of medicine at two medical schools. The first edition of Plagues and Poxes, published in 1987, focused on the waxing and waning of specific diseases and their impact on world history. Half of that edition was organized around the status of medicine as illustrated by the treatment of U.S. presidents or their family members. This new edition devotes more space to noncontagious diseases and traces the effect of historical events, in particular the use of diseases as terrorist weapons and the modern potential for such uses. Eleven chapters are either major or minor revisions of those in the first edition, and six chapters are entirely new. The writing is for a general readership, with explanations of the rather few anatomical terms and other technical references. The content is presented in an interesting fashion, with numerous bits of obscure information scattered throughout, often with a relevance that is more historical than medical. For example, the chapter on yellow fever relates that during the famous charge up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War, Colonel Teddy Roosevelt was the only rider. The price of Scotch whiskey increased during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic because of a belief that the drink had therapeutic value. Regarding poliomyelitis, we learn that during Franklin Roosevelt's numerous railway journeys, the speed of the train was limited to 35 miles per hour to minimize his discomfort from the vibration of the car. "Spring fever" originated as a term of American colonists for the scurvy-induced lassitude that set in after a winter without fresh fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, I cannot determine the basis for some dubious statements because specific references are not given. For instance, bubonic plague was not called the Black Death in the 14th century but, rather, "the great mortality." "Black Death" came into use in 16th-century Scandinavia and was used in England in the 17th century. And, the author claims, "venereal urethritis . . . was known at least two millennia before syphilis appeared," even though no ancient description of involuntary urethral discharge mentions pain, making the diagnosis of gonorrhea doubtful before an English description in the 14th century. Also, the book states that "in 1831 . . . John Snow published a report suggesting that cholera was being spread by contaminated water," despite the fact that Snow would have made this report at the age of 18 years; it usually is dated to 1849. "The Ebers papyrus . . . recorded the effectiveness of extracts of the autumn crocus (the source of colchicine) for treating arthritis" is an unlikely statement that might have resulted from confusion between saffron (the dried stigma of Crocus sativus), which is believed to have appeared in the Ebers papyrus (although not in association with arthritis), and the bulb of another crocus, Colchicum autumnale, the source of colchicine. Names sometimes appear inconsistently, such as "Dr. Karl Landsteiner and his assistant, E. Popper" (Erwin), and the virologist Flexner's first name (Simon) should have been given to avoid confusion with his equally famous brother, Abraham. Of the rather few typographic errors, the most serious appears in a reference to Bacterial and Mycotic Infections of Man, supposedly edited by "Dubois, RJ" and published in 1848; Rene Jules Dubos actually published this book in 1948. Eighteen illustrations, all accompanied by descriptive text, are a new feature of this edition. References are given at the end of each chapter, mostly to secondary sources, and the index is adequate. Although not authoritative, Plagues and Poxes is entertaining and concisely offers much information that is not easily available. Thomas G. Benedek, M.D.
Copyright © 2005 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Review

"Do not start this book at night unless you suffer from insomnia; the stories are spellbinding..." -- Doody's Notes, November 2004

"The essays are well written, referenced, and filled with fascinating details of the people and events involved." -- Journal of the American Medical Association, January 19, 2005

...serves up a rich feast of disease, danger, and death. -- ForeWord Magazine, November/December 2004

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Demos Medical Publishing; 2nd edition (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188879979X
• ISBN-13: 978-1888799798
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #342,205 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Dry Prose with Poor Additions, December 18, 2004

By	Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The "M.D." stands prominently after the author's name on the cover of this book and that's probably for a good reason: this text would fit better in the pages of a medical journal then as a book for public consumption. As a reader with a science background (albeit in physics) I am always ready to read a new science book. I also have an interest in the study of disease, particularly as it relates to the historical development of the human race. Still, this book was a disappointment.

Consider the following passage from the chapter on anthrax: "Most naturally occurring anthrax strains are sensitive to penicillin, which historically has been the preferred anthrax therapy. Doxycycline is the preferred option among the tetracycline class of agents, because it has been proved efficacious in monkey studies. Other members of this class of antibiotics are suitable, and animal studies suggest that such prophylaxis should be effective. The floroquinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin [Cipro®])should have equivalent efficacy, but no data are available..." Not only is this dull prose, it is unimportant to the thread of the story that Dr. Bollett claims he is telling. And this is only one of the most prominent examples of poor prose (besides making me wonder whether or not Dr. Bollett has any financial interest in Cipro).

According to the introduction, this book is a revised edition to an earlier book on the same subject. I didn't read the first edition but I have a feeling it is much better than this book. Mainly because the last three chapters on emerging diseases are the poorest in the book and are probably new to this addition. As are what I expect are new paragraphs near the end of every chapter that relates how every single disease in history could be weaponized. It is disturbing to see a book like this play on people's fears of bioterrorism.

It's unfortunate because the historical sections of the book which are the bulk of the first parts of each chapter are well done if a bit dry. Dr. Bollett has turned the traditional view around a bit by considering how human history has impacted epidemic disease rather than the other way around. If the book had stayed on this path it would have been decent, if not great. Somehow this new edition has lost its way.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charts the rise and changing of disease patterns, November 10, 2004

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The impact of human history on epidemic disease is related in Dr. Bollett's Plagues And Poxes, an excellent medical-based survey which charts the rise and changing of disease patterns throughout human history. From key events which sparked changes and people involved in them to how inflections diseases have been stopped, Plagues And Poxes provides both a case history and a social analysis, written by a medical doctor who has been a member of many prestigious medical history societies.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok, but a little thin, December 29, 2005

By	D. J Stemke "Argo" (Indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am using this book in a class I am currently teaching. It's fine, gives a decent rundown on the major plagues and includes non-infectious plagues which adds another dimention to the text. Still, it is a tad brief for anything much other than an overview.