Confronting Contagion: Our Evolving Understanding of Disease

Throughout History, Mankind's Working Theories Regarding The Cause Of Infectious Disease Have Shifted Drastically, As Cultures Developed Their Philosophic, Religious, And Scientific Beliefs. Plagues That Were Originally Attributed To The Wrath Of The Gods Were Later Described As Having Nothing To Do With Them, Though The Cause Continued To Be A Mystery. As Centuries Passed, Medical And Religious Theorists Proposed Reasons Such As Poor Air Quality Or The Configuration Of The Planets As Causes For The Spread Of Disease. In Every Instance, In Order To Understand The Origin Of A Disease Theory During A Specific Period Of History, One Must Understand That Culture's Metaphysical Beliefs.--from Cover, Page [2]. Homer-hesiod-torah-greek Playwrights -- Philosophers -- Hippocratic Writings -- Galen -- After Galen -- The Causes Of Plague (the Black Death) In Europe 1348-1350 Ce -- The Late Renaissance Period -- Mechanical Philosophy, The Revival Of Atomism, And Contagious Disease Theory In The Seventeenth Century -- The Discovery Of Microscopic Life -- The Cause Of Plague In France In 1720 Cd -- Plant Diseases Are Caused By Living Microscopic Cells (fungi) That Are Not Spontaneously Generated -- The Nineteenth Century -- Filterable Agents, Designated As Viruses, Cause Contagious Diseases Of Plants, Animals, Humans, And Bacteria. Melvin Santer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.