Insects, Hygiene and History

Busvine'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.

James Ronald Busvine was Emeritus Professor of Entomology as Applied to Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.

Introduction 1 The World of Insects and Mites 2 Origin and Evolution of Insects and Mites 3 The Harmful Effects of Parasites 4 The Prevalence of Ectoparasites in Different Epochs 5 Human Reactions to Ectoparasites 6 Ectoparasites as Objects of Scientific Curiosity 7 Medical Aspects of Ectoparasites References Index of Persons Subject Index