Description
Book Synopsis: Imagine a time when a killer disease took lives at a rate rivaling Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, and continued that grim harvest year after year, decade after decade. Such a nightmare scenario played out in the state of Arkansas—and across the United States—throughout the nineteenth century and well into the twentieth, when the scourge of tuberculosis afflicted populations. Stalking the Great Killer is the gripping story of Arkansas’s struggle to control tuberculosis, and how eventually the state became a model in its effective treatment of the disease.
To place the story of tuberculosis in Arkansas in historical perspective, the authors trace the origins of the disease back to the Stone Age. As they explain, it became increasingly lethal in the nineteenth century, particularly in Europe and North America. Among U.S. states, Arkansas suffered some of the worst ravages of the disease, and the authors argue that many of the improvements in the state’s medical infrastructure grew out of the desperate need to control it.
In the early twentieth century, Arkansas established a state-owned sanatorium in the northwestern town of Booneville and, thirty years later, the segregated Black sanatorium sanitorium outside Little Rock. These institutions helped slow the “Great Killer” but at a terrible cost: removed from families and communities, patients suffered from the trauma of isolation. Joseph Bates saw this when he personally delivered an uncle to the Booneville sanitorium as a teen in the 1940s.
In the 1960s, Bates, now himself a physician, and his physician colleague Paul Reagan overcame a resistant medical-political system to develop a new approach to treating the disease without the necessity of prolonged isolation. This approach, consisting of brief hospitalization followed by outpatient treatment, became the standard of care for the disease.
Americans today, having gained control of the disease in the United States, seldom look back. Yet, in the age of the Covid-19 pandemic, this compelling history, based on extensive research and eyewitness testimony, offers valuable lessons for the present about community involvement in public health, the potential efficacy of public-private partnerships, and the importance of forward-thinking leadership in the battle to eradicate disease.
Details
Discover the gripping story of Arkansas's battle against tuberculosis in the compelling book, Stalking the Great Killer: Arkansas's Long War on Tuberculosis. Step back in time to an era when this deadly disease ravaged communities, claiming lives at an alarming rate. Drawing on extensive research and eyewitness accounts, this book takes you on a journey through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, highlighting Arkansas's struggle to control tuberculosis and ultimately become a model for effective treatment. Don't miss out on this fascinating historical account that sheds light on a forgotten epidemic.
Dive deep into the origins of tuberculosis with Stalking the Great Killer. Learn how this disease dates back to the Stone Age and became increasingly lethal in the nineteenth century, leaving devastating impacts in Europe and North America. Among all U.S. states, Arkansas suffered some of the worst ravages of tuberculosis. The authors argue that many improvements in the state's medical infrastructure were born out of the desperate need to combat this "Great Killer." Gain invaluable insights into the history of medicine and the progress made in the face of adversity.
Uncover the dark history of Arkansas's state-owned sanatoriums in Booneville and Little Rock. While these institutions played a crucial role in slowing the spread of tuberculosis, they also came at a great cost. Patients, separated from their families and communities, endured the trauma of isolation. Journey alongside Joseph Bates, who witnessed this firsthand when he delivered his own uncle to the Booneville sanatorium as a teenager. This personal account adds a poignant and human element to the narrative.
Witness the triumph of innovation over a resistant medical-political system. In the 1960s, physicians Joseph Bates and Paul Reagan defied the odds and developed a groundbreaking approach to treating tuberculosis. Their method, involving brief hospitalization followed by outpatient treatment, revolutionized the standard of care for the disease. Learn from their perseverance and forward-thinking approach, which still holds lessons for our society today as we navigate the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Don't miss your chance to delve into this compelling history that offers valuable lessons for the present and future. Whether you're a history buff, a medical professional, or simply interested in stories of resilience, Stalking the Great Killer: Arkansas's Long War on Tuberculosis is a must-read. Grab your copy today and be inspired by the power of community involvement in public health. Order now to embark on this eye-opening journey through Arkansas's fight against tuberculosis.
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