The Epidemic Streets By Anne Hardy Summary

The Epidemic Streets: Infectious Disease and the Rise of Preventive Medicine, 1856-1900, written by Anne Hardy. Her book basically foretells the advancement in the examination of mortality and morbidity versus these factors as medical innovations began taking shape. “For many years the decline in the death rates from the common infectious diseases which began in the 1870s was attributed to the new science and technology of public health” (p .1) Mrs. Hardy exhibits true detective skills as she collects and uses a vast array of medical records as her supporting evidence. Her focus is on communicable diseases and their specific behavior in early 19th century London from childhood all the way through adulthood. “If we look at the eight major diseases and their behaviour in the years 1850 to 1900, two sets of distinctions can be made. One is between the diseases which principally affected adults and the infectious diseases of childhood” (p. 290)
In the beginning of her book Anne begins singling

out each infectious disease and represents an overview for that particular disease and medical treatments and eventually the advancements that have taken place for the infection. Her work review accounts from the time frame of 1865-1900, England. Hence, she states how the diseases were viewed by the public and medical professionals as well as treatments or precautionary actions that they could take to rebuke disease or prevent it. For example, “Where such anxiety existed among the middle class, the advice which doctors trained by West and others were giving by the early 1880s, to segregate children and observe strict isolation procedures, may well have been observed” (p.99). As her book continues she uses her research to tie her facts together and displays them very cohesively. Her breakdown on various medical theories and developments appear organized and explained in a simple fashion. In addition, she reiterates the ideas that were suspected of producing disease outbreaks such as, “Water supplies, infected food, and carriers all played their part in the diffusion of typhoid in nineteenth century London (p.157).
Ultimately, what begins to take shape is how these medical innovations lessened mortality rates immensely throughout the period. Therefore, how those medical breakthroughs led to a decrease of mortalities from disease via preventative measures are deeply discussed in her book. Some deaths were even attributed to being malnourished, but not so much in London which focused more attention on poverty. “Although they often remarked on social behaviour, London's medical officers made little comment on the dietary habits of their people, on their nutritional condition or its relation to infectious disease”(p.286) She depicts each disease as the professionals documented their investigations and any useful information relative to them. However, a downfall in the book is that the reader may develop boredom in the first few chapters because of the transitions of each disease are slow and takes one full chapter to conclude. However, after completing the book this seems to be a purposeful intention by the author.
It is very helpful by assisting the reader in gaining a complete understanding of each disease as a separate entity and lessening confusion. In addition, to explaining in detail the infectious disease, societal responses, and treatments available during the period, Hardy thoroughly describes the contributing influences of disease and specific behaviors between the varying types of infections in the Victorian city. Anne Hardy presents a clear knowledge of the material she is sharing. The evidence is broken down into unpretentious terms that even those uneducated in medicine can understand without great difficulty. She states that some had a great deal of work involved in trying to extinguish communicable diseases in England altogether. “The medical officers of health played a central part in the transformation of England's disease experience during the last decades of the nineteenth century. It was they who spearheaded the Victorian struggle against infectious disease, and it was their initiative and their labours which led to the eventual eradication of the epidemic streets” (p.294)
A undesirable aspect of this book is that majority of its contents have already been presented in some way. However, Mrs. Hardy demonstrates a plethora of supporting credentials effortlessly. Throughout this read, one will find themselves transcended through many years of chaotic and confusing times acknowledged in medical history. Anne Hardy exhibits a broad base of facts through others eyes, but she does this so well one could assume she was giving personal accounts.
The problem is that some of her experts take part in debating medical history some of which are still highly controversial today. These scholarly inputs make the reader need to look for more information on their theories. For instance, peculiar information like “Indeed, it was commonly felt that the 'overfeeding' of the children of the well-to-do might be connected with their adverse reaction to scarlet fever”. (p.76) However, it may be essential for one to see the differing ways that experts define and solidify their works. In this book it seems to be useful because of the information Mrs. Hardy is forecasting. For instance, she proposes through expert an argument that places the ill as being so by native and societal circumstances.
She inclines readers then to understand the scholar testimony and be able to apply it as she represents the important facts on contagious disease. Hardy finds other links between infectious disease and social parameters as well. She shares differing opinions about the circumstances and the reaction these diseases had on the cities and England as a whole. Subtlety, as the reader makes their way through the book they suddenly can make associations between each and every type of disease and its known behavior, treatment, and prevention. At first many diseases were only apparent in childhood; therefore, many children passed from their illnesses prior to inoculators inventions in medicine, “Measles first came to prominence in England as a serious contributor to childhood mortality in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century when, with the introduction of smallpox vaccination, more children were spared death from smallpox in infancy” (p.38-39).
Overall, the book did not offer anything new, but it did contain well presented evidence about the topic.

She finds the topic interesting mainly because the sheer numbers of childhood deaths related to the epidemic in London from 1865 to the turn of the century. In her acknowledgements she equates the unsettling deaths with being on the receiving end as a mother and not being able to handle such tragedy. “The writing of this book saved my sanity during their babyhood: their company makes me profoundly grateful that deadly epidemics of childhood infections are at this moment essentially a terror of the past” (p. VII). Anne chose a curiosity in this book for a lecturer, but gained the knowledge of scholars that made medical history over the years. As the reader carries on through the book assumptions are made and correlations of the work of experts are exhibited. One may think that this would be troublesome for an untrained reader; however, it most certainly is the exact

opposite.
In conclusion, Mrs. Hardy used her intellect and interest to create a great read. One could imagine picking up her book and not putting it down until it is finished. The scholarly facts mixed with the personal accounts make for an organized and concise piece. However, getting used to only reading about one epidemic at a time can be a bit frustrating in the beginning. One can understand its purpose as they continue reading though, it is necessary so the reader can digest each disease separately. If you decide to read this book, get ready to retain a wealth of knowledge about diseases in the latter 1800s until the turn of the century. Be sure to consider the appropriate amount of time, so you will not be interrupted. Mrs. Hardy has placed an excellent read on bookshelves everywhere.