A Short History of Disease: Plagues, Poxes and Civilisations(2015)

Sean Martin

Throughout history, disease has plagued human civilisations, claiming more lives than natural disasters and warfare combined. Now, in 2015, the world's response to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, which has caused widespread devastation since it was first reported in March 2014, is at the forefront of health discussions. A Short History of Disease chronicles the historical and geographical evolution of infectious and non-infectious diseases, offering an accessible guide to the ailments and the medical methods used to combat them. Analysing case studies including the Black Death, Spanish Flu, syphilis, cancer, malaria and Ebola, Martin maps the development of trends and the latest research on disease into a concise and enlightening timeline.