In the Blink of an Eye : the Deadly Story of Epidemic Meningitis

This book is an account of a major historical event, in the world of medicine. As the son of one of the lead scientists who developed the vaccine for meningococcal meningitis, Andrew Artenstein has a unique perspective on the story. ""In the Blink of an Eye"" shares his experience Describing more than two centuries of epidemic meningitis, In the Blink of an Eye introduces a deadly and frightening bacterial infection of the brain--one that afflicts healthy children and young adults in dramatic fashion, often changing or taking lives in just hours or days. Meningococcal meningitis is the culprit--causing sporadic cases as well as explosive, unpredictable outbreaks of disease throughout the world--leading to the deaths of dozens to hundreds of thousands every year. Beginning with the case of a healthy teenage boy who rapidly succumbs to the disease, the book traces meningitis through its various social contexts. From the acceptance of the germ theory of disease and the birth of the sister sciences of microbiology and immunology in the nineteenth century to the modern molecular era, the story traverses more than 200 years of medical history. It leads us through the early descriptions of the disease, its impact on military forces, large outbreaks of meningitis in Africa and elsewhere, and the evolution of approaches to its treatment, control, and prevention. In so doing, we witness the development of modern medical research and education, the discovery of antibiotics, the rapid emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, the invention of a novel class of vaccines, and learn the inner workings of disease processes and the human immune system. The story of meningococcal meningitis--winding through the evolution of infectious diseases, the great European capitals of nineteenth century science, the Rockefeller Institute, the dye industry, Nazi Germany, military medicine, the Vietnam era, and prospects for an end to epidemic disease--parallels the rise of modern medical science Front Matter....Pages i-ix Origins....Pages 1-6 The Art and Science of Germs....Pages 7-17 A Singular Disease....Pages 19-27 A Very Mortal Disease....Pages 29-37 Early Approaches at Therapy....Pages 39-48 Antibiotics and Survival of the Fittest....Pages 49-57 A Brief History of Vaccines....Pages 59-66 That Soluble Specific Substance....Pages 67-73 Towards a Vaccine....Pages 75-85 Success for Half....Pages 87-95 The Future of a Killer....Pages 97-105 Back Matter....Pages 107-138 Origins -- The Art And Science Of Germs -- A Singular Disease -- A Very Mortal Disease -- Early Approaches At Therapy -- Antibiotics And Survival Of The Fittest -- A Brief History Of Vaccines -- That Soluble Specific Substance -- Towards A Vaccine -- Success For Half -- The Future Of A Killer. Andrew W. Artenstein. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 109-128) And Indexes.