A Disease Apart: Leprosy in the Modern World
For millennia, sufferers of Hansen's disease, commonly known as leprosy, have endured not only the illness' devastating effects but also unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those around them. Indeed, some of the worst offenders have been those charged with caring for the afflicted. Gould says it is the combination of leprosy's mysterious causes and its horrific physical manifestations that inspires such behavior. In this thoughtful book, he traces leprosy's recent history by examining the lives of people who have made a difference, ranging from household names like Father Damien to such lesser-known heroes as Stanley Stein, who waged a victorious battle against the U.S. Public Health Service. Despite what appear to be great strides--the author cites leprosarium closures from declining incidence of the disease in industrialized nations--Gould claims the battle is far from over. For there is no cure, no preventive vaccine, nor any good idea yet as to either cause or how leprosy is spread. Moreover, leprosy still occurs in many areas of the Third World.Donna ChavezCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved