Insects, Hygiene and History

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Busvines introductory account of the evolutionary histories of insects and mites leads on to a fascinating study of human reactions to ectoparasites. It shows how the extent of mans curiosity about them and references to their prevalence provide a continuous commentary both on the history of biological science from Aristotle to the present day and on the modes and manners of ages past. Subjects of ribald verse, quack medicine and morbid imagination as well as literary symbols of piety, love and human insignificance, this is also the history of how medicine discovered that ectoparasites acted as transmitters for epidemic diseases.

Author Bio

James Ronald Busvine was Emeritus Professor of Entomology as Applied to Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.