Insects, Hygiene and HistoryBusvine's introductory account of the evolutionary histories of insects and mites leads on to a fascinating study of human reactions to ectoparasites. It shows how the extent of man's curiosity about them and references to their prevalence provide a continuous commentary both on the history of biological science from Aristotle to the present day and on the modes and manners of ages past. Subjects of ribald verse, quack medicine and morbid imagination as well as literary symbols of piety, love and human insignificance, this is also the history of how medicine discovered that ectoparasites acted as transmitters for epidemic diseases. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 5 | |
2 Origin and Evolution of Insects and Mites | 20 |
3 The Harmful Effects of Parasites | 47 |
4 The Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Different Epochs | 67 |
5 Human Reactions to Ectoparasites | 86 |
6 Ectoparasites as Objects of Scientific Curiosity | 125 |
7 Medical Aspects of Ectoparasites | 176 |
References | 243 |
| 257 | |
| 261 | |
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Common terms and phrases
adult Aldrovandi ancient animals appeared Aristotle arthropods associated authorities bed bugs began biology birds bites blood body lice breed cause clothes concerned crab lice crab louse creatures cure described developed doctor early ectoparasites eggs eighteenth entomology epidemic evolution evolutionary example feed flesh forms Galen German Greek groups hair head lice head louse host human flea human louse humours hygiene insect vermin insecticides insects insects and mites involved itch mites killed known large number later living London louse lousy disease mammals mediaeval medicine mentioned microscope modern Mouffet mouthparts nature nineteenth century nits noted observations occur original parasites Pediculus perhaps pests Phthiriasis physician plague published quoted rats reactions records references relapsing fever remarks remedies renaissance rickettsiae rodents says scabies scabies mite scratching seems similar skin species spirochaetes studies sucking suggested Swammerdam Theatrum theory tion tropical typhus various vectors vertebrates wings worms