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Disease in the Popular American Press The Case of Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, and Syphilis, 1870-1920
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By Terra Ziporyn
ISBN: 0-313-26035-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-26035-3
208 pages, bibliog., index
Greenwood Press
Publication: 9/28/1988
List Price: $112.95 (UK Sterling Price: £65.00)
Availability:
Media Type: Hardcover
Subjects:
Series Title: Contributions in Medical Studies
Series Number: 24
Reviews:
  • A well-researched, qualitative analysis of how the US mass media covered typhoid fever, diphtheria, and syphilis from 1870 to 1920. Ziporyn, a free-lance writer and former American Association for the Advancement of Science mass media science fellow, finds consistently high press coverage of typhoid fever contrasted with media disinterest in diphtheria and cautious reporting about syphilis. The press's approaches differed, she explains, because the news media responded to dissimilar social values about typhoid fever, diphtheria, and syphilis at the turn of the century. Ziporyn's observations are aided by a thorough, well footnoted analysis of publications across 14 categories.
    —Choice
Description: This study explores the depiction of medical science to the American public through the medium of popular magazines in the period 1870 to 1920. To understand the impact of medical advances as conveyed by the popular press, Ziporyn examines articles on diphtheria, typhoid fever, and syphilis in major popular magazines of the time. In search of the common underlying premises, she analyzes the very different depictions of these three diseases: diptheria was associated with children, typhoid fever with uncleanliness, and syphilis with immorality. Although generally conservative in announcing advances, medical popularizers nevertheless presented theory as absolute certainty. Perhaps in anticipation of reader desires, popular articles portrayed medical science as completely devoid of uncertainty of error.
Table of Contents:
  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • The Popularization of Medicine
  • Diphtheria: A Disease of the Innocent
  • Typhoid Fever: A Disease of the Indifferent
  • Syphilis: A Disease of the Immoral
  • Conclusion: Medical Science in Popular American Magazines
LC Card Number: 88-5585
LCC Class: PN4784
Dewey Class: 070.4
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