twelve diseases that changed our world by irwin w sherman

Of particular interest is the book’s accounting of 19th-century pioneers in epidemiology and infectious diseases. A limited number of references are provided in the concluding book notes, grouped by chapter and page number, which offer additional resources for readers seeking more information. Sherman, who recently authored The Power of Plagues, in which he also examines 7 of these infections his command of the subject matter is evident.Įach chapter is packed with information ranging from pathogenesis and clinical manifestations to epidemiologic calculations and antimicrobial drug resistance. These topics are familiar territory for Dr. Specifically, the chapters are devoted to the study of cholera, smallpox, bubonic plaque, syphilis, tuberculosis, malaria, fever, influenza, and AIDS. Thereafter, the book turns to the topic of infectious diseases and the lessons learned from earlier responses to “unanticipated outbreaks of disease” to inform preparedness for future outbreaks. Also presented is a riveting account of the consequences of a potato blight in 1840s Ireland, which forced migration of millions to England and North America.

The opening chapters meet the title’s promise by tracing the impact of hereditary blood disorders porphyria and hemophilia on the succession of European monarchs in the 16th through 18th centuries. Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World offers engaging observations on a dozen diseases to serve 2 goals.

Twelve diseases that changed our world by irwin w sherman