Dirt and Disease

Dirt and Disease is a compelling history of polio in America, focusing on the early years from 1900 to 1920. Naomi Rogers uses her medical knowledge to bring this topic to life for historians unfamiliar with the early twentieth century. She describes how polio is spread, how it affects patients, and how scientists and physicians are able to diagnose the disease. She also explores the effects of innovative treatments, such as iron lungs, on different classes of Americans.