The Ghost Map was about the 1854 cholera outbreak in London. The book describes, in depth, how cholera spread throughout the city, and what was done to change it. This particular outbreak originated from one single pump. As the book goes through the tale as to how the cure was found, it also highlights the ways in which cholera has changed society. New mapping technologies, health regulations and purification systems were created from this disease. The book is very interesting and gives an insight of the disease, its affects and the outcome. Not only was this London's most terrifying epidemic, but it changed science, cities and the modern world.
Hatshepsut
That sounds very interesting, however, I don't think I could wade my way through a book with a large section of sewage.
ReplyDelete~Vladimir Lenin
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ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book but it seems like it is very lengthly and has some boring parts.
ReplyDelete-John Wilkes Booth
I LOVED this book. It was amazing. I couldn't get over how specific the author was able to be. How they traced the outbreak back to one child's diaper. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI also loved the descriptions of the scientists who tried to determine the cause of the plague. The one doctor who delivered anesthesia to the queen but traced down cholera outbreaks in his freetime....he rocked.
Plus, I loved the way they talked about the slow creation of the London sewer system, and how all the sewage killed all the fish.
Great fun. :D
Mrs. McCabe
This book actually sounds extremely interesting.
ReplyDeleteWas Cholera related to the plague at all? Where did it come from?
I really want to read this one! (Especially after reading your summary and Mrs. McCabe's comment!)
In my book, "The Fruit Hunters" there were a few diseases being spread through exotic fruits, but of course there were cures also. Nothing as intense as cholera though.
~Benjamin Franklin.