The Guts of the Matter: A Global History of Human Waste and Infectious Intestinal Disease

The Guts of the Matter is a study of our oldest ecological problem: the transmission of infectious intestinal disease from human waste. Spanning the early hominin era to the present, this book explores the evolution of human waste disposal practices, the use of faeces and urine as fertilizer, and the changing patterns of transmission of intestinal pathogens and parasites. Chapters trace the spread of viral, bacterial, and helminthic infections through the early processes of globalization and track the uneven successes of the sanitation revolution in recent centuries. The book also provides an overview of the cultural practices that influence the transmission of infectious intestinal disease and the impacts of biomedical advances such as oral rehydration therapy and vaccination. Webb's impressive breadth and meticulous research is invaluable for students of public health, environmental history, global history, and medicine.

Author: James L. a. Webb Jr
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 12/12/2019
Pages: 222
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.90w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781108737067

About the Author
Webb Jr, James L. a.: - James L. A. Webb, Jr is Professor of History at Colby College, Maine. His recent books include The Long Struggle against Malaria in Tropical Africa (Cambridge, 2014) and Global Health in Africa (2013).