Biology of Plagues: Evidence from Historical Populations

by Susan Scott, Christopher J. Duncan

The threat of unstoppable plagues, such as AIDS and Ebola, is always with us. In Europe, the most devastating plagues were those from the Black Death pandemic in the 1300s to the Great Plague of London in 1665. For the past 100 years it has been accepted that Yersinia pestis, the infective agent of bubonic plague, was responsible for these epidemics. This book combines modern concepts of epidemiology and molecular biology with computer-modeling. Applying these concepts to the analysis of historical epidemics, the authors show that they were not, in fact, outbreaks of bubonic plague. Biology of Plagues offers a completely new interdisciplinary interpretation of the plagues of Europe, and establishes them within a geographical, historical, and demographic framework. This fascinating detective work will be of interest to readers in the social and biological sciences, and lessons learned will underline the implications of historical plagues for modern-day epidemiology.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction

436 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 1997

Reviews

[Victor Sonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors claim that the plague epidemics we know of were not caused by Yersinia pestis; while this is highly questionable, the narrative is interesting and full of details.

[Martin Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating account of plagues in medieval England and Europe. Drawing on extensive records and contemporary analysis, the book provides compelling evidence that the bubonic plague and Black Death were separate diseases. The Black Death appears to have been a form of hemorrhagic plague with a long incubation period, a long infectious period and a relatively short time between the onset of symptoms and death. The reasons for its disappearance around 1670 are still a mystery.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to write a 4 page book review on this book for my Renaissance and Reform History class last week. Excellent book if you dig science and the history of human disease. This book is actually authored by Historian Susan Scott and Zoologist Christopher Duncan. Their book was intended to provide the information and evidence needed to debunk the claims that the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, was responsible for all instances of plagues noted in history.