Product Description
The dramatic story of tuberculosis is told here in a straightforward and accessible style. It presents the stories of persons connected with the disease, either as victims, or as those who made contributions to our knowledge of it; in addition to these personal accounts, the book unfolds the history and explains the pathogenesis of TB. The re-emergence of tuberculosis as a major American public health hazard has focused much attention on this ancient disease. This book offers a comprehensive account of the disease from prehistoric times through to the present day, detailing the attempts to eradicate it completely. Its four separate sections (the spread of tuberculosis; its infectious nature; susceptibility to it; and methods of treatment) are linked through the device of presenting individuals' particular experience of the disease, whether as as victims, or as those who made contributions to our knowledge of it; in between these vignettes, the book unfolds the history and explains the pathogenesis of TB. A detailed medical glossary completes the volume.THOMAS M. DANIEL is Emeritus Professor of Medicine and International Health and Director of the Center for International Health at Case Western Reserve University.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 2 reviews)

The narrative isn't linear

I read this good book, here in Brazil.This book is concise and easy to read.It wasn't made for doctors, but for general public.I'm not a doctor.I'm an agronomist.
Some photos; all black and white.
The main failure of this book is to be non-linear.A chapter about tuberculosis today, is before a chapter about the discovery of bacterial origin of tuberculosis.
Among the best parts of this book, there's the proof that tuberculosis declined before medicines against it, were found in late 1940 decade.Better sanitarization, better food, pasteurization,etc. put tuberculosis in decline, since late XVIII Century.
January 24, 2008

An eye-opening history of a nearly forgotten plague

As a child that started grade school in the 1950s, I remember standing in lines for TB skin tests. Now, after reading this remarkable book and learning of the many luminaries in the arts, sciences, literature, politics, and the aristocracy the fell to this forgotten killer, I feel profoundly lucky to be born after 1948. I'm amazed the story of tuberculosis is not more well known, for it's a story the deserves to be told, retold, and remembered. Another well-kept secret from the text is that today TB still kills more people worldwide than AIDS and all of the tropical diseases combined. How did Dan Rather missed this scandal?

On a light note, it's interesting that a recent (I thought) ideal of beauty, the Kate Moss "heroin" look, is really quite old. The text described how young and beautiful women were considered to be even more beautiful if they appeared to be pale and wasting away with TB--the "consumtive" look. Strange how history repeats its self.
March 11, 2000

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