Great American Diseases

Their Effects on the course of North American History

1st Edition - January 11, 2022
Authors: Ian R. Tizard, Jeffrey M.B. Musser
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 8 9 2 5 - 1
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 8 9 2 6 - 8

Great American Diseases: Their Effects on the Course of North American History presents medical history as it pertains to the major infectious diseases of North America. The book i… Read more

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Great American Diseases: Their Effects on the Course of North American History presents medical history as it pertains to the major infectious diseases of North America. The book is designed to provide an interesting and engaging introduction to microbiology, immunology and epidemiology. With the advent of COVID-19, this book will serve as a reference on the history of previous epidemics. The book presents pandemics in an easy-to-read volume and provides concise chapters on the history of a disease, progression of understanding on the pathogen (agent of the disease), and their social ramifications through the history of North America.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Introduction: How infectious diseases have shaped American History
Chapter One: Infectious diseases and their causes
Abstract
A world of microbes
Bacteria
Viruses
Protozoan parasites
Zoonoses
Pandemics and epidemics
References
Chapter Two: Immunity and recovery from infectious diseases
Abstract
Immune defenses
Innate immunity
Adaptive immunity
Population immunity
Vaccination
Herd immunity
Immunization
References
Chapter Three: Diseases among the first inhabitants
Abstract
Native American diseases
The Maya collapse
References
Chapter Four: Tuberculosis—Another ancient disease
Abstract
The organism
The disease
History
The tuberculosis epidemic
References
Chapter Five: Syphilis and the Columbian exchange
Abstract
The organism
The diseases
History
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study
References
Chapter Six: Malaria and the ague—1492
Abstract
Malarial parasites
The disease
History
New discoveries
References
Chapter Seven: Smallpox—1519: The first vaccines
Abstract
Smallpox: The disease
History
Variolation
Vaccination
Eradication!
References
Chapter Eight: Measles—1531: Almost gone!
Abstract
The virus
The disease
History
Current status
Vaccination, herd immunity, and vaccination hesitancy
References
Chapter Nine: Typhoid and typhus—1607: Smelly differences
Abstract
Typhoid fever
The disease
History
Water quality
Current status
Epidemic typhus
The bacterium
The disease
History
Current status
References
Chapter Ten: Yellow fever—1647: Mosquito-borne invader
Abstract
Yellow fever
History
The United States
The Spanish-American war
Yellow fever vaccine
References
Chapter Eleven: Cholera—1832: A worldwide pandemic
Abstract
The bacterium
The disease
History
References
Chapter Twelve: Poliomyelitis—1841: The triumph of vaccination
Abstract
The disease
History
Jonas Salk
Albert Sabin
Global eradication
References
Chapter Thirteen: Infectious diseases and the Civil War
Abstract
Enteric diseases
Measles
Fevers
Parasites
Military hospitals
Lessons learned
References
Chapter Fourteen: Plague and San Francisco—1900
Abstract
The plague bacillus
The plague
History
Across the west
References
Chapter Fifteen: Influenza—1918: A wartime pandemic
Abstract
Influenza viruses
The disease
History
Influenza 1918
The death toll
The end of the pandemic
Present status
References
Chapter Sixteen: A completely new disease: AIDS-1981
Abstract
The virus
The syndrome
History
Societal changes
Treatment
Eradication?
References
Chapter Seventeen: Panic and neglect—2000–2018
Abstract
Home-grown threats
Across the southern border
Flying in
References
Chapter Eighteen: COVID-19: Not just another respiratory virus—2020
Abstract
Origins
Coronaviruses
Clinical disease
Time course
Global significance
The victims
The vaccines
The problems
Predicted outcomes
References
Glossary
Further reading
Index

Ian R. Tizard

Ian R. Tizard, BVMS, BSc, PhD, DSc (Hons), DACVM, is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists and a University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Immunology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Texas Veterinary Medical Center at Texas A &M University (TAMU), College Station, Texas, USA. Dr. Tizard earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1965. He then completed a Bachelor of Science in Pathology and a PhD in Immunology. After completing his studies, Dr. Tizard became a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph, where he remained as a professor until 1982 when he moved to TAMU. Dr. Tizard wrote the first standardized textbook on Veterinary Immunology in 1977. This text, now in its 11th edition, is used worldwide, and has played a major role in establishing Immunology among the key disciplines.

Affiliations and expertise

University Distinguished Professor of Immunology Emeritus, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

Jeffrey M.B. Musser

Dr. Jeffrey M.B. Musser is Clinical Professor at Texas A&M University in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. His research includes dairy production medicine, mastitis prevention and control, and quality milk production; pharmacokinetics in exotic and food animals and drug residue prevention; vaccine investigation; and viral diseases of sheep, goats, and birds. He earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Virginia Tech and his PhD from North Carolina State University. He teaches Biomedical Microbiology and Great Diseases at the undergraduate level and Veterinary Microbiology in the professional school. Dr. Musser has received recognition and awards for his teaching, which have included the Zoetis Distinguished Teaching Award, the Distinguished Achievement University-level Teaching Award, the Distinguished Achievement College-level Teaching Award, and the International Study Abroad Education Programs Award.

Affiliations and expertise

Clinical Professor, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

Life Sciences

Physical Sciences & Engineering

Social Sciences & Humanities

Health