A Brief History Of Germs

This book introduces readers to the history and discovery of viruses and bacteria. It provides an accessible overview of how several major pandemics have influenced the society and how vaccines and antibiotics were developed. Dive into the fascinating illustrated stories behind 17 common infectious diseases, and learn about the pathogen characteristics, main symptoms, transmission routes, as well as prevention and control strategies. By featuring the difficulties in the struggle against infectious diseases, the contents highlight the scientific spirits and the stories of scientists. Human beings' faith in seeking out the unknown is highly praised, and it is hoped that this book will stimulate people's belief in scientific ideas and methods.

Charts how, why, and by whom germ theory was transformed from a hotly disputed speculation to a central tenet of modern medicine.

AIDS. Ebola. "Killer microbes." All around us the alarms are going off, warning of the danger of new, deadly diseases. And yet, as Nancy Tomes reminds us in her absorbing book, this is really nothing new. A remarkable work of medical and cultural history, The Gospel of Germs takes us back to the first great "germ panic" in American history, which peaked in the early 1900s, to explore the origins of our modern disease consciousness. Little more than a hundred years ago, ordinary Americans had no idea that many deadly ailments were the work of microorganisms, let alone that their own behavior spread such diseases. The Gospel of Germs shows how the revolutionary findings of late nineteenth-century bacteriology made their way from the laboratory to the lavatory and kitchen, with public health reformers spreading the word and women taking up the battle on the domestic front. Drawing on a wealth of advice books, patent applications, advertisements, and oral histories, Tomes traces the new awareness of the microbe as it radiated outward from middle-class homes into the world of American business and crossed the lines of class, gender, ethnicity, and race. Just as we take some of the weapons in this germ war for granted--fixtures as familiar as the white porcelain toilet, the window screen, the refrigerator, and the vacuum cleaner--so we rarely think of the drastic measures deployed against disease in the dangerous old days before antibiotics. But, as Tomes notes, many of the hygiene rules first popularized in those days remain the foundation of infectious disease control today. Her work offers a timely look into the history of our long-standing obsession with germs, its impact on twentieth-century culture and society, and its troubling new relevance to our own lives.

In the wake of the anthrax letters following the attacks on the World Trade Center, Americans have begun to grapple with two difficult truths: that there is no terrorist threat more horrifying -- and less understood -- than germ warfare, and that it would take very little to mount a devastating attack on American soil. In Germs, three veteran reporters draw on top sources inside and outside the U.S. government to lay bare Washington's secret strategies for combating this deadly threat. Featuring an inside look at how germ warfare has been waged throughout history and what form its future might take (and in whose hands), Germs reads like a gripping detective story told by fascinating key figures: American and Soviet medical specialists who once made germ weapons but now fight their spread, FBI agents who track Islamic radicals, the Iraqis who built Saddam Hussein's secret arsenal, spies who travel the world collecting lethal microbes, and scientists who see ominous developments on the horizon. With clear scientific explanations and harrowing insights, Germs is a masterfully written -- and timely -- work of investigative journalism.

Germ Theory: Medical Pioneers in Infectious Diseases, Second Edition From the ancient worlds of Hippocrates and Avicenna to the early 20th century hospitals of Paul Ehrlich and Lillian Wald to the modern-day laboratories of François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, Germ Theory brings to life the inspiring stories of medical pioneers whose work helped change the very fabric of our understanding of how we think about and treat infectious diseases. In beautifully crafted narratives, author Robert Gaynes describes and presents compelling stories, including How Edward Jenner, the pioneer of vaccination, faced down scores of naysayers How a chance discovery led Louis Pasteur to the idea that the virulence of microbes can be altered How scientists in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark produced penicillin during World War 2 while keeping their efforts hidden from the Nazis The second edition features three new chapters based on interviews with Nobel Laureates François Barré-Sinoussi and Barry Marshall, and former NIAID Director and medical advisor to seven U.S. presidents Anthony Fauci, detailing fascinating accounts from their careers, including their groundbreaking work in the areas of HIV, peptic ulcers, and COVID-19, respectively. A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title winner, Germ Theory is required reading for anyone training or working in the field of infectious diseases or with an interest in microbes, the history of medicine, or how new discoveries can bring about paradigmatic shifts in thinking.

"The Story of Germ Life" by H. W. Conn is a bacteriology book that begins with a discussion of the nature of bacteria. The book shows their position on the scale of plant and animal life. The middle chapters describe the functions of bacteria in the arts, dairy, and agriculture. The final chapters discuss the relation of bacteria to disease and the methods by which the new and growing science of preventive medicine combats and counteracts their dangerous powers.

From the dawn of history, individuals and civilizations have battled disease. The struggle shifted once epidemiologists, medical professionals, and other specialists identified the microscopic organisms often to blame for much of humanity’s illnesses over time. This book examines both the history of battling disease and the ever-shifting frontlines of the modern struggle against germs, as well as possible future developments. From cutting-edge medical treatments to common-sense measures to prevent and address the insidious effects of germs (measures that have changed remarkably little through the centuries), this work documents how the fight against germs helps the human race to survive and thrive.

Beyond Germs: Native Depopulation in North America challenges the hypothesis that the massive depopulation of the New World was primarily caused by diseases brought by Europeans, which scholars used for decades to explain the decimation of the indigenous peoples of North America. Contributors expertly argue that blaming germs downplays the active role of Europeans in inciting wars, destroying livelihoods, and erasing identities.