The Russell Cawthorn Collection
The Great War 1914-1918, and Associated Conflicts Medical The Spanish Influenza Pandemic
RCC7964
Hunting the 1918 Flu. One Scientist's Search For A Killer Virus
ISBN
9780802094568
Purchase Price
£22.20 (new)
Date Purchased
July 9, 2020
Publisher
University of Toronto Press (2006, Toronto, Buffalo & London)
Notes
This is a fascinating book. It should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in the 1918/19 Spanish Influenza Pandemic, or possibly anyone with the least interest in the Covid-19 crisis of 2020, which is raging as we write this. Particularly, people in Government might have benefited from reading it! The Svarlbard Expedition, in the end, was fairly inconclusive in its actual achievements, although it is obvious that Duncan, who was at all times the driving force behind the idea, was perfectly justified in pressing on with it. The results could well have been spectacularly different, and they might have contributed greatly to the greater understanding of the influenza and similar viruses. But the 6 bodies which were exhumed were not so well preserved by the permafrost as might have been expected. However, the book Duncan wrote about the Expedition is very relevant, and is well worth its place in the Collection. It is also a very good read, if for nothing else for the running story through the book about the double dealings on the part of some of the members of the Expedition, and other scientists who were associated with it. Sadly, the worst culprits appeared to be the British. Highly recommended.
9780802094568
Purchase Price
£22.20 (new)
Date Purchased
July 9, 2020
Publisher
University of Toronto Press (2006, Toronto, Buffalo & London)
Notes
This is a fascinating book. It should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in the 1918/19 Spanish Influenza Pandemic, or possibly anyone with the least interest in the Covid-19 crisis of 2020, which is raging as we write this. Particularly, people in Government might have benefited from reading it! The Svarlbard Expedition, in the end, was fairly inconclusive in its actual achievements, although it is obvious that Duncan, who was at all times the driving force behind the idea, was perfectly justified in pressing on with it. The results could well have been spectacularly different, and they might have contributed greatly to the greater understanding of the influenza and similar viruses. But the 6 bodies which were exhumed were not so well preserved by the permafrost as might have been expected. However, the book Duncan wrote about the Expedition is very relevant, and is well worth its place in the Collection. It is also a very good read, if for nothing else for the running story through the book about the double dealings on the part of some of the members of the Expedition, and other scientists who were associated with it. Sadly, the worst culprits appeared to be the British. Highly recommended.
