Since publication of the initial version of Plagues Poxes in 1987; which had the optimistic subtitle The Rise and Fall of Epidemic Disease;" the rise of new diseases such as AIDS and the deliberate modification and weaponization of diseases such as anthrax have changed the way we perceive infectious disease. With major modifications to deal with this new reality; the acclaimed author of Civil War Medicine: Challenges and Triumphs has updated and revised this series of essays about changing disease patterns in history and some of the key events and people involved in them. It deals with the history of major outbreaks of disease - both infectious diseases such as plague and smallpox and noninfectious diseases - and shows how they are in many cases caused inadvertently by human actions; including warfare; commercial travel; social adaptations; and dietary modifications. To these must now be added discussion of the intentional spreading of disease by acts of bioterrorism; and the history and knowledge of those diseases that are thought to be potential candidates for intentional spread by bioterrorists.Among the many topics discussed are: How the spread of smallpox and measles among previously unexposed populations in the Americas; the introduction of malaria and yellow fever from Africa via the importation of slaves into the Western hemisphere; and the importation of syphilis to Europe all are related to the modern interchange of diseases such as AIDS. How the ever-larger populations in the cities of Europe and North America gave rise to "crowd diseases" such as polio by permitting the existence of sufficient numbers of non-immune people in sufficient numbers to keep the diseases from dying out. How the domestication of animals allowed diseases of animals to affect humans; or perhaps become genetically modified to become epidemic human diseases. Why the concept of deficiency diseases was not understood before the early twentieth century disease; after all; was the presence of something abnormal; how could it be due to the absence of something? In fact; the first epidemic disease in human history probably was iron deficiency anemia. How changes in the availability and nature of specific foods have affected the size of population groups and their health throughout history. The introduction of potatoes to Ireland and corn to Europe; and the relationship between the modern technique of rice milling and beriberi; all illustrate the fragile nutritional state that results when any single vegetable crop is the main source of food. Why biological warfare is not a new phenomenon. There have been attempts to intentionally cause epidemic disease almost since the dawn of recorded history; including the contamination of wells and other water sources of armies and civilian populations of course; the spread of smallpox to Native Americans during the French and Indian War is known to every schoolchild. With our increased technology; it is not surprising that we now have to deal with problems such as weaponized spores of anthrax."
#1672163 in Books Potomac Books 1998-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .49 x 8.30 x 11.73l; #File Name: 185753218X144 pages
Review
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. analysis of the rebel ArmyBy Eduardo J. Tellez AThis book is written by a noted authority on the subject (Ron Field) and is lavishly illustrated with over 150 colour and black and white photographs as well as artwork commissioned from leading military artists. This books is an essential reference source for everyone with an interest in military history; as well as collectors; re-enactors; wargamers and military modellers. This is an essential book for all with an interest in the Confederate Army of 1861-1865. It is a thorough analysis of the rebel Army at this time of the national crisis with chapters detailing the uniforms and equipment of the regular army; including infantry; cavalry and artillery;There are also chapters on the many colourful militia regiments raised to swell the Southern Army; including Zouaves.In these volume of Brassey's History of Uniforms; Confederate uniforms are examined in terms of style; quality and color. What emerges is a fascinating glimpse at both governments' "make do" efforts; ranging from the exotic to the hilarious.The description of the Confederate uniforms is arranged by state; detailing uniform variations and how each state met the challenge of clothing its soldiers;uniforms issuance from initial local supply through to state quarter master manufacture for South Carolina; Mississippi; Florida; Alabama; Georgia; Louisiana; Texas; Virginia; Arkansas; Tennessee; North Carolina; Missouri; Kentucky and Maryland.EX;Mississippi; for instance; was virtually destitute of cloth supplies by February 1861. But the state took over the textile industry and had its prisoners work making uniforms.I would like to recomend American Civil War: Union Army by the same author Robin Smith and also a great book by another authority William C. Davis his book Fighting Men of the Civil War (Rebels Yankees)3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. analysis of the rebel ArmyBy Eduardo J. Tellez AThis book is written by a noted authority on the subject (Ron Field) and is lavishly illustrated with over 150 colour and black and white photographs as well as artwork commissioned from leading military artists. This books is an essential reference source for everyone with an interest in military history; as well as collectors; re-enactors; wargamers and military modellers. This is an essential book for all with an interest in the Confederate Army of 1861-1865. It is a thorough analysis of the rebel Army at this time of the national crisis with chapters detailing the uniforms and equipment of the regular army; including infantry; cavalry and artillery;There are also chapters on the many colourful militia regiments raised to swell the Southern Army; including Zouaves.In these volume of Brassey's History of Uniforms; Confederate uniforms are examined in terms of style; quality and color. What emerges is a fascinating glimpse at both governments' "make do" efforts; ranging from the exotic to the hilarious.The description of the Confederate uniforms is arranged by state; detailing uniform variations and how each state met the challenge of clothing its soldiers;uniforms issuance from initial local supply through to state quarter master manufacture for South Carolina; Mississippi; Florida; Alabama; Georgia; Louisiana; Texas; Virginia; Arkansas; Tennessee; North Carolina; Missouri; Kentucky and Maryland.EX;Mississippi; for instance; was virtually destitute of cloth supplies by February 1861. But the state took over the textile industry and had its prisoners work making uniforms.I would like to recomend American Civil War: Union Army by the same author Robin Smith and also a great book by another authority William C. Davis his book Fighting Men of the Civil War (Rebels Yankees)0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Willam L. EwbankGreat!
