Making of a Social Disease - Tuberculosis in Nineteenth-Century France

In this first English-language study of popular and scientific responses to tuberculosis in nineteenth-century France, David Barnes provides a much-needed historical perspective on a disease that is making an alarming comeback in the United States and Europe. Barnes argues that French perceptions of the disease--ranging from the early romantic image of a consumptive woman to the later view of a scourge spread by the poor--owed more to the power structures of nineteenth-century society than to medical science. By 1900, the war against tuberculosis had become a war against the dirty habits of the working class.

Lucid and original, Barnes's study broadens our understanding of how and why societies assign moral meanings to deadly diseases.

About the author

David S. Barnes is Assistant Professor at the Graduate Institute of the Liberal Arts, Emory University.

Summary

In this study of popular and scientific responses to tuberculosis in 19th-century France, the author provides a historical perspective on a disease that is making an alarming comeback in the United States and Europe.

Product details

• Authors: David S. Barnes, Barnes David S.
• Publisher: University Of California Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 13.01.1995
• EAN: 9780520087729
• ISBN: 978-0-520-08772-9
• No. of pages: 305
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > Clinical medicine; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Social structure research; Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900, European History, MEDICAL / Public Health, HISTORY / Europe / General, Anthropology, HISTORY / Social History, Social & cultural history, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, MEDICAL / Pulmonary & Thoracic Medicine, MEDICAL / Preventive Medicine, 19th century, c 1800 to c 1899, 18th century, c 1700 to c 1799, Social issues & processes, Social and cultural history, Public health & preventive medicine, Human biology, Social and ethical issues, Respiratory medicine, Public health and preventive medicine, Medical Anthropology