The Animal Parasites of Man.

Beneath the surface of ordinary life moves an unseen population of organisms that make their living from the human body, and this book sets out to describe them with the patient rigor of science.

What it's about

This is a systematic study of the parasites that infest human beings, written in the tradition of the great early textbooks of parasitology. It surveys the various organisms, from worms to protozoa and other invaders, that live in or upon the human host, describing their structure, their often intricate life cycles, and the diseases and disturbances they cause. Rather than invent particulars this description cannot verify, it is fair to characterize the work as a reference and teaching text, organizing a large body of biological and medical knowledge so that students and practitioners could recognize, understand, and combat these organisms.

Themes

The book reflects the scientific spirit of careful observation and classification, the drive to map the natural world in exact detail. It concerns the relationship between host and parasite, the remarkable and sometimes disturbing ingenuity of life adapted to depend on another creature, and the practical link between understanding these organisms and protecting human health.

Why it still matters

Works like this document a formative stage in the sciences of biology and medicine, when the causes of many diseases were being traced for the first time to specific organisms. Even where later research has advanced beyond it, the book preserves foundational knowledge and shows how methodically that knowledge was won. It remains of interest to students of the history of science and to anyone curious about the hidden ecology of the human body.

Who it's for

Readers with an interest in biology, medicine, or the history of science will find value here, as will the naturally curious who are not squeamish about life's stranger arrangements. It suits those who appreciate careful, factual writing about the living world.