Reviews for The Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion

The average rating for The Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2020-11-25 00:00:00 Dario Guadagnini A fascinating, well researched, detailed look at medical, political and cultural history during two cholera epidemics that hit the City of Naples, Italy in 1884 and again in 1910-1911. The history begins with the precursors and sanitary issues that left Naples at risk for the 1884 epidemic (during the 5th pandemic of cholera) followed by the causes, responses (both from society and by government to contain the epidemic) and results of the 1884 event. After the devastating 1884 epidemic the Italian government decided on a policy of "Risanamento" or a program of major public works improvement projects in Naples to update tenement housing, sewage systems, water systems, farming etc. The very expensive programs were based on the faulty theories of the anti-contagionist Max von Pettenkofer - the theory that sewage seeping underground contaminated the air people breathed (aka the Miasma theory). That wouldn't have mattered to a great extent if the renewal system had been carried out appropriately as it would have improved public health nonetheless, but unfortunately the corruption of politicians and the camorra influence (organized crime) caused most of the money to be squandered and the plan was never fully executed. When cholera reappeared in 1910-1911 the Italian government implemented a complete policy of concealment, both domestically and internationally, to deal with this new epidemic (the 6th pandemic). The possibility of having to admit to the very expensive but failed "Risanamento", the economic fallout including halting the lucrative international emigration of Naples laborers/farm workers to the US and Argentina, in addition to Italian pride and the tourist trade during the 50th anniversary of Italian unification during this public health event drove the implementation of a governmental policy to conceal. Tragically, it also prevented newer rehydration therapies from being used on and saving 90-95% of patients (the causative vibrio had been identified by Robert Koch by this time and the germ theory firmly established but international doctors were not approved to come to the country to help with the non-existent cholera) causing the continuation of fatalities and suffering for the many Italians afflicted. Professor Snowden's book is a true medical detective story in which he researches international documents (Ellis Island records for example), Italian telegrams, speeches, Italian parliamentary archives, etc. in order to ferret out the hidden epidemic and the US and French collusion in it. I have to warn that it is dense (but brilliant) and takes a longer time to read than you might expect, but if you have an interest in Italian history or medical history I highly recommend it.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-11-25 00:00:00 Matthew Yohn didn't know about this