Pox, Pus and Plague

Townsend, John. Pox, Pus and Plague: A history of Disease and Infection. Part of the Painful History of Medicine series. 2006. 56p. ISBN 1-4109-1333-3. Available at 616 TOW on the library shelves.

The human body is constantly under attack from bacteria and viruses. Even though thousands of different bacteria thrive in the environment, a few of them are very harmful to us and have the power to kill us. This short book discusses the history of our interactions with these invisible forces and the mysteries they presented until their “discovery” thanks to microscopes.

From ancient times to the Ebola epidemic of 2015, this invisible enemy has threatened us with disease and death. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans thought that blood letting would help sick people. There were four types of humors, and when they were not in balance it was thought the cause of the sickness. As the Middle Ages plodded along the Black Death, transmitted by fleas, killed off more than a third of Europe’s population. Eventually, a scientist discovered that bacteria thrived in unsanitary water, and measures were taken to solve this problem. More discoveries led to the creation of vaccines such as penicillin, and humankind began fighting back against harmful bacteria.

Some work remains, however, for even now these types of diseases kill millions of people every year. With cancer in the crosshair, there is hope that further discoveries will improve the lives of many people.

IF this topic is of interest, be sure to read Life During the Black Death.