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A review by erin_oriordan_is_reading_again
Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a Cure by Alison Blank, Jim Murphy
5.0
Did you know that all five Bronte sisters, along with their mother and brother, died of tuberculosis? The body-destroying disease is known to have afflicted Homo erectus, an ancestor of modern humans. Easily spread through coughing, sneezing and even breathing, the disease had no effective treatments until the mid-20th century. For about 40 years, it was all but defeated. Then the bacteria that cause the disease began to become drug-resistant. The AIDS epidemic and countries that refuse to follow the standard medical treatments (thank you very much, Russia) have helped TB make a roaring comeback - something everyone in the world should be concerned about.
This would make a fine addition to any school or classroom library, and would be enjoyed by middle-grade kids fascinated by the human body and young people who aspire to working in the medical profession. I would have liked this when I was a kid - an Egyptophile, I was fascinated by the process of mummification and the way people used to grind up mummies for medicine. This has similar interesting-but-so-gross material. Ever hear of artificial pneumothorax? If you're easily grossed out, you'll be glad you haven't.
This would make a fine addition to any school or classroom library, and would be enjoyed by middle-grade kids fascinated by the human body and young people who aspire to working in the medical profession. I would have liked this when I was a kid - an Egyptophile, I was fascinated by the process of mummification and the way people used to grind up mummies for medicine. This has similar interesting-but-so-gross material. Ever hear of artificial pneumothorax? If you're easily grossed out, you'll be glad you haven't.