YA?Where did the Black Death originate? How many kinds of plague are there? How widespread was polio? What is Legionnaire's Disease? This factual, yet fascinating, volume answers these questions and many more in a clear, readable form. Although it is a reference book, it may be read as a history and geography of world diseases. There is plenty of information in each alphabetically arranged entry, and suggestions for further reading are included for more serious scholars. A book that will enrich science, social studies, English, and other classes, as well as inform general readers.?Margaret C. Hecklinger, Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Edited by prolific reference author Kohn (Dictionary of Historic Documents, LJ 5/1/91), this unique encyclopedia provides brief entries on most of the significant epidemics throughout history. A typical entry is less than one page and covers basic facts such as time and location of the outbreak, number of stricken, and any historical significance of the epidemic. A few suggested readings follow each entry, and a comprehensive bibliography of classic and current epidemiological works is included. Additional special features include a time line and a listing of epidemics by geographical area. The biggest drawback to this source is its arrangement. While the book is adequately indexed, most entries are alphabetized according to location of outbreak (e.g., Legionnaires' Disease is located in the "P" section under "Philadelphia 'Legionnaires' Disease' Epidemic"), which makes some articles difficult to locate. But though brief, the articles are also informative, making this a useful ready-reference source for general readers.?Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Disease has decimated populations, defeated armies, and caused great suffering all over the world. The
Encyclopedia of Plague and Pestilence offers an introduction to the role of disease in world history, with information on major epidemics and their effects on civilization.
The book is arranged alphabetically by the location of the epidemic, e.g., Afghan Influenza Epidemic of 1918, Zanzibar Cholera Epidemic of 1916. Multiple entries are listed chronologically: Asiatic Cholera Pandemic of 1846^-63, Asiatic Cholera Pandemic of 1865^-75. There are some inconsistencies in titles, such as Plague of Athens, Great and Plague of Florence (Black Vomit). With the exception of Black Death, there are no general entries for diseases. General and geographic indexes facilitate access, and see also references direct readers to related articles.
Entries range in length from one paragraph to two pages. They present basic facts about location, date, how and why the epidemic started and spread, the people affected, and its outcome or significance. Clinical and epidemiological information is minimal. The cause, mode of transmission, and symptoms are mentioned in some entries, but not repeated in every article about the same disease. The focus of the book is historical. More than 700 epidemics, ranging from various outbreaks of cholera, smallpox, and typhus to English Sweating Disease and the French Army Syphilis Epidemic of 1494, are covered. A time line of epidemics supplements the text. Most entries have references for further reading, and there is an extensive bibliography of both classic and contemporary literature.
Although this book lacks the depth of The Cambridge World History of Human Disease (1993), it provides a fine introduction to a fascinating subject. The Encyclopedia of Plague and Pestilence is a good source for high-school and public libraries.
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