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The Moth in the Iron Lung

A Biography of Polio

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About this listen

A fascinating account of the world’s most famous disease - polio - told as you have never heard it before. Epidemics of paralysis began to rage in the early 1900s, seemingly out of nowhere. Doctors, parents, and health officials were at a loss to explain why this formerly unheard-of disease began paralyzing so many children - usually starting in their legs, sometimes moving up through their abdomen and arms. For an unfortunate few, it could paralyze the muscles that allowed them to breathe.

Why did this disease start to become such a horrible problem during the late 1800s? Why did it affect children more often than adults? Why was it originally called teething paralysis by mothers and their doctors? Why were animals so often paralyzed during the early epidemics when it was later discovered most animals could not become infected? The Moth in the Iron Lung is a fascinating biography of this horrible paralytic disease, where it came from, and why it disappeared in the 1950s. If you’ve never explored the polio story beyond the tales of crippled children and iron lungs, this book will be sure to surprise.

©2018 Forrest Maready (P)2018 Forrest Maready History & Commentary Medicine & Health Care Industry Physical Illness & Disease World Health Medicine Health Care
All stars
Most relevant
Well read and easy to follow, it provides great insight on history and facts alike.

Great insight on a "threat" still demonised today.

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Very convincing, thorough account of polio and the possible causes and subsequent treatments. Maready delves deep into the history books to bring the story to life, blending personal accounts with their wider contexts.

Fascinating account of the famous disease

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…It’s that we don’t learn from history

This book gives the glaring hole in medical ethics and FDA policies the plug required.

Research 11/10

Information 11/10

Narration 11/10

If we learn anything from history …

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The book shows the full story of the famous polio and how its picture presented in the official version is incomplete and very misleading. People have a tendency to jump into conclusions far too quickly and so do the scientist in particular. It very often comes at a way too much cost to the oblivious population who trust the greatest minds. The greatest minds do not like admit they were mistaken.

A brilliant book!

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Loved the story, the human narratives, the science and the deceptions arrayed in this excellent book. Essential for anyone with an interest in history, medicine, public health and how facts can be distorted through the lenses of herd perception. Read it now.

Riveting, Explosive Story

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