The great stink of Paris and the Nineteenth-Century struggle against filth and germs

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Jacalyn Duffin

"In Lovers and Livers, Jacalyn Duffin introduces philosophical theories of disease and delves into the history of two distinct afflictions - one old, one new - that serve as examples to show how applying theory can uncover surprising aspects of the medical past and present. Written with humour and compassion, and using examples from Duffin's own clinical experience, Lovers and Livers is based on a series of public lectures incorporating audience participation along with a wide variety of sources including art, literature, medical journals, and newspapers."--Jacket.

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Roger Webber

Communicable diseases can devastate whole populations and are a problem in both developing countries and the developed world. Understanding their epidemiology is vital to the doctor and communicable disease specialist involved in their control. This book draws on the depth of practical experience gained by the author and a wide range of other sources to review communicable diseases in a global perspective. The main part of the book covers a wide range of the important communicable diseases and this is further supported by a comprehensive outline of known communicable diseases given in an annex at the end of the book. The first part describes epidemiological methods and illustrates their use with practical examples. The second part covers communicable diseases in a systematic manner grouping diseases by epidemiological criteria. This classification enables control to be instigated using the epidemiological principles and control methods described in the first part of the book. Grouping diseases in this manner also makes it easier to understand and link them together, so facilitating learning. . The book balances informativeness with a simple and practical delivery. It is an essential tool for all doctors, epidemiologists, and those working in the control of communicable diseases, especially in developing countries. It is designed to present a clear introduction for medical students, public health specialists and those involved in disease control.

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Daniel Kunitz

Why the Pain? What's the Gain? takes you on a guided tour of humankind's 3000-year wayward search for the perfect workout; from the dirt courtyards of the ancient Greek gymnasium to the birth of the modern gym in 19th-century Paris; to the weekend, beachside Olympic-caliber gymnasts of Santa Monica and Sydney. Daniel Kunitz seeks the answer to a simple yet profound question: Why do we work out? We will listen in on the innovators and charlatans who lifted the multibillion-dollar business of gym-fitness into being. We will learn how the women's movement sparked an enormous exercise boom and tell the story not only of how we arrived at the big-box gym era but also of the last decade's acceleration into a new fitness frontier. Daniel Kunitz puts himself through the grit and pain of the cross fit, parkour and tough mudder regimes, searching not just for new-found physique, but on a quest to understand the pain and more precisely the gain of working out.

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Jonathan Simon

"This book explores the history of pharmacy in France and its relationship to the discipline of chemistry as it emerged at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It argues that an appreciation of the history of pharmacy is essential to a full understanding of the constitution of modern science, in particular the discipline of chemistry. As such, it provides a novel interpretation of the chemical revolution (c.1770-1789) that will, no doubt, generate much debate on the place of the chemical arts in this story, a question that has hitherto lacked sufficient scholarly reflection. Furthermore, the book situates this analysis within the broader context of the French Revolution, arguing that an intimate and direct link can be drawn between the political upheavals and our vision of the chemical revolution."--Jacket.