The angel of death : the story of smallpox

The story of the rise and fall of smallpox, one of the most savage killers in the history of mankind, and the only disease ever to be successfully exterminated (30 years ago next year) by a public health campaign. Angel of Death is a lively and powerful account of our battle against smallpox, the only disease that mankind has successfully eradicated from the planet. By weaving previously unrecorded voices in with the personal experiences of colourful historical figures such as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Edward Jenner, Gareth Williams brings alive one of the most exciting success stories in the history of medicine. His book also gives original and engaging insights into the anti-vaccination campaigns which remain active today, and into the many unlearned lessons of smallpox. Angel of Death will appeal to all those moved by the excitement of discovery and stories of people fighting against adversity, and to anyone interested in history or medicine Highly relevant for today as the fight lives on to banish other deadly diseases from the world.' - Sarah Parker, Director, Edward Jenner Museum, Gloucestershire, UK 'Filled with fascinating historical detail, this story resonates with contemporary concerns about epidemics and the fight against them. Gareth Williams effortlessly weaves together medical science writing and social history to tell the compelling tale of a battle against a deadly disease.' - Alice Roberts, Research Fellow in Archaeology & Anthropology, University of Bristol, UK 'In lively prose with unpatronising insight into past medical dilemmas, he dramatises the scourge and its treatment first by variolation (immunisation with live smallpox virus) then vaccination, but also shows how controversial smallpox vaccination was during the 19th century.' - The Lancet ' ... the author explores one of the most exciting success stories in the history of medicine.- "This extraordinary book brings alive the sheer horrors of smallpox and how mankind has managed to wipe it out using vaccination, pioneered by a Gloucestershire country doctor in 1796. This history has a very modern message, and this book needs to be read by everyone interested in public health today."--Mark Horton, presenter of BBC TV's Coast and Professor of Archaeology, University of Bristol 'The Angel of Death is a fascinating account of the most terrible disease to afflict mankind. Smallpox showed no mercy: the young, old, poor and royalty all equally at risk; whole societies almost wiped out in its inexorable wake. 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of its final eradication; Gareth Williams charts this compelling story with a plot that weaves seamlessly between cultures and centuries. Written in a wonderfully flowing and engaging style, this is a must read for all lovers of history.- Front Matter....Pages i-xix Know the Enemy....Pages 1-27 Of Man and Angel....Pages 28-51 First Steps in the Right Direction....Pages 52-70 The Ambassador’s Ingenious Lady....Pages 71-95 Curiosa Americana....Pages 96-126 From Passion to Fashion....Pages 127-148 The Greatest Improvement?....Pages 149-160 Everyday Tales of Country Folk....Pages 161-174 The Disinterested Divulger of a Salutary Blessing....Pages 175-208 Crusaders and Infidels....Pages 209-234 An Affront to the Rights of Man....Pages 235-255 More Fatal than Smallpox....Pages 256-282 The Most Beautiful Discovery or a Disastrous Illusion?....Pages 283-305 Lest We Forget....Pages 306-327 Death Throes of a Clinical Curiosity....Pages 328-354 Legacy of an Angel....Pages 355-372 Back Matter....Pages 373-N8 Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 9 Acknowledgements 13 Setting the Scene 16 1 Know the Enemy 21 2 Of Man and Angel 48 3 First Steps in the Right Direction 72 4 The Ambassador’s Ingenious Lady 91 5 Curiosa Americana 116 6 From Passion to Fashion 147 7 The Greatest Improvement? 169 8 Everyday Tales of Country Folk 181 9 The Disinterested Divulger of a Salutary Blessing 195 10 Crusaders and Infidels 229 11 An Affront to the Rights of Man 255 12 More Fatal than Smallpox 276 13 The Most Beautiful Discovery or a Disastrous Illusion? 303 14 Lest We Forget 326 15 Death Throes of a Clinical Curiosity 348 16 Legacy of an Angel 375 Appendix Case History: Erysipelas following vaccination 393 Notes 395 Bibliography 422 Index 434 Angel of Death tells a lively and powerful tale: the story of our battle against smallpox, once humankind's greatest killer, but ultimately the only disease that we have successfully eradicated from the planet. By skilfully weaving together previously neglected voices with the personal experiences of colourful historical figures such as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Edward Jenner, Gareth Williams breathes life into one of the most exciting success stories in the history of medicine. Filled with original and engaging insights into the anti-vaccination movement and the alarming unlearned lessons of smallpox, Angel of Death will appeal to all those moved by the thrill of discovery and the individual's fight against adversity His book also gives original and engaging insights into the anti-vaccination campaigns which remain active today.' - The Guild of Health Writers ' ... an engaging narrative, in which medical history is interweaved with social history and reflections on contemporary issues.' - BBC History Magazine