1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910454392303321

Autore

Patterson Gordon M

Titolo

The mosquito crusades [[electronic resource] ] : a history of the American anti-mosquito movement from the Reed Commission to the first Earth Day / / Gordon Patterson

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Brunswick, N.J., : Rutgers University Press, c2009

ISBN

1-282-07860-7

9786612078606

0-8135-4700-8

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (286 p.)

Collana

Studies in modern science, technology, and the environment

Altri autori (Persone)

PattersonGordon M

Disciplina

614.4/323

Soggetti

Mosquitoes as carriers of disease - United States

Mosquitoes - Control - United States - History - 20th century

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

"Sequel to The mosquito wars: a history of mosquito control in Florida, which appeared in 2004"--Pref.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 223-253) and index.

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction. The Guardians of Paradise -- Chapter 1. Waging War on the Insect Menace -- Chapter 2. The Garden State Takes the Lead -- Chapter 3. A Continental Crusade -- Chapter 4. Public Health, Race, and Mosquitoes -- Chapter 5. Widening the Campaign -- Chapter 6. Advances and Retreats during the Great Depression -- Chapter 7. Weapons of Mass Destruction -- Chapter 8. The Postwar Era -- Chapter 9. Discontent and Resistance -- Epilogue. The End of the Crusade -- Notes -- Index -- About the Author

Sommario/riassunto

Among the struggles of the twentieth century, the one between humans and mosquitoes may have been the most vexing, as demonstrated by the long battle to control these bloodsucking pests. As vectors of diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, and dengue fever, mosquitoes forced open a new chapter in the history of medical entomology. Based on extensive use of primary sources, The Mosquito Crusades traces this saga and the parallel efforts of civic groups in New Jersey's Meadowlands and along San Francisco Bay's east side to



manage the dangerous mosquito population. Providing readers with a fascinating exploration of the relationship between science, technology, and public policy, Gordon Patterson's narrative begins in New Jersey with John B. Smith's effort to develop a comprehensive plan and solution for mosquito control, one that would serve as a national model. From the Reed Commission's 1900 yellow fever experiment to the first Earth Day seventy years later, Patterson provides an eye-opening account of the crusade to curtail the deadly mosquito population.