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Disease and geography: the history of an idea
Health & Place 8 (2002) 221
Book review Disease and geography: the history of an idea Frank A Barrett, Atkinson College Department of Geography, Geographical Monographs No. 23. Atkinson College, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2000, pp. xv and 570, ISBN 1-55014-396-4. This is a substantial monograph by any standards. At a time when publishers, perhaps understandably, focus almost exclusively on books for the undergraduate market, it is unusual to come across a book-length publication such as this that genuinely merits being described as a monograph in that it sets out the conclusions of a substantial volume of primary research alongside an original synthesis of otherwise often obscure contributions by others. Disease and Geography is undoubtedly a major addition to knowledge concerning the development of geographical perspectives on health and disease. It brings together in one volume, the contributions that Professor Barrett has made to the field over many years and includes much additional commentary. There can be little doubt that people seeking a reference point for understanding the evolution of medical geography or geographical medicine will be drawn to Disease and Geography. At the very least it is not only a synthesis of Professor Barrett’s own work, it also acts as an admirable summary of others’ contributionsFoften in non-English sources. Running through it are a number of arguments: that it is possible to distinguish conceptually those developments led from geography from those originating in medicine; that maps, the thirst for encyclopaedic knowledge, exploration, colonial endeavour and military exigencies were important; and that hygiene and environmental determinism were of key relevance in understanding more recent developments. It is the stress on the distinctiveness of the geographical contribution and the role of the map that mark out the text from others. Readers seeking a critical history will not find it in Disease and Geography. The approach is traditional. Alongside the established arguments noted above is a straightforward chronological ordering framework and
PII: S 1 3 5 3 - 8 2 9 2 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 3 6 - 3
a focus on ‘great men’ rather than the socio-cultural context of their activities. The book begins in ancient Greece and proceeds rapidly through the Romans and the medieval period to its substantive focus on the period since the turn of the sixteenth century. A short and rather superficial chapter reminds us that significant knowledge was also accumulated in China and India. It is these early chapters that are least impressive; in contrast, from Chapter 5 through to Chapter 15 the book pursues themes and individuals in a hugely detailed analysis that leads us ultimately to the middle of the last century. While the analysis may not be everyone’s taste, it is remarkable for its thoroughness and is well-referenced and helpfully footnoted. All the key figures are covered and the circumstances surrounded their contributions to medical geography and dissected with both clarity and detail. Chapter 16 considers medical cartography. To some extent it revisits material already covered albeit from a different angle. Arguably it is alongside the early chapters, another less successful part of the book. The vast bulk of the book is thus, as the title suggests, a fascinating excursion through the history of an idea. The extent of one’s fascination will undoubtedly reflect one’s enthusiasm for the subject matter; in no sense could it be described as an easy read. It could have been improved with more illustrations and parts might have been omitted. There are inevitable absencesFthis is gendered story of white European/North American menFand there is certainly a case for greater contextualisation. Overall, however, the book should be seen as a tour de force relevant to anyone seeking insight into how such seemingly disparate disciplines as geography and medicine came together. As a synthesis of a huge literature and an example of sustained inquiry, it is, particularly in its middle chapters, a welcome addition to knowledge. Graham Moon University of Portsmouth, Institute for the Geography of Health, Milldam Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3AS, UK E-mail address: [email protected]
Book review Disease and geography: the history of an idea Frank A Barrett, Atkinson College Department of Geography, Geographical Monographs No. 23. Atkinson College, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2000, pp. xv and 570, ISBN 1-55014-396-4. This is a substantial monograph by any standards. At a time when publishers, perhaps understandably, focus almost exclusively on books for the undergraduate market, it is unusual to come across a book-length publication such as this that genuinely merits being described as a monograph in that it sets out the conclusions of a substantial volume of primary research alongside an original synthesis of otherwise often obscure contributions by others. Disease and Geography is undoubtedly a major addition to knowledge concerning the development of geographical perspectives on health and disease. It brings together in one volume, the contributions that Professor Barrett has made to the field over many years and includes much additional commentary. There can be little doubt that people seeking a reference point for understanding the evolution of medical geography or geographical medicine will be drawn to Disease and Geography. At the very least it is not only a synthesis of Professor Barrett’s own work, it also acts as an admirable summary of others’ contributionsFoften in non-English sources. Running through it are a number of arguments: that it is possible to distinguish conceptually those developments led from geography from those originating in medicine; that maps, the thirst for encyclopaedic knowledge, exploration, colonial endeavour and military exigencies were important; and that hygiene and environmental determinism were of key relevance in understanding more recent developments. It is the stress on the distinctiveness of the geographical contribution and the role of the map that mark out the text from others. Readers seeking a critical history will not find it in Disease and Geography. The approach is traditional. Alongside the established arguments noted above is a straightforward chronological ordering framework and
PII: S 1 3 5 3 - 8 2 9 2 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 3 6 - 3
a focus on ‘great men’ rather than the socio-cultural context of their activities. The book begins in ancient Greece and proceeds rapidly through the Romans and the medieval period to its substantive focus on the period since the turn of the sixteenth century. A short and rather superficial chapter reminds us that significant knowledge was also accumulated in China and India. It is these early chapters that are least impressive; in contrast, from Chapter 5 through to Chapter 15 the book pursues themes and individuals in a hugely detailed analysis that leads us ultimately to the middle of the last century. While the analysis may not be everyone’s taste, it is remarkable for its thoroughness and is well-referenced and helpfully footnoted. All the key figures are covered and the circumstances surrounded their contributions to medical geography and dissected with both clarity and detail. Chapter 16 considers medical cartography. To some extent it revisits material already covered albeit from a different angle. Arguably it is alongside the early chapters, another less successful part of the book. The vast bulk of the book is thus, as the title suggests, a fascinating excursion through the history of an idea. The extent of one’s fascination will undoubtedly reflect one’s enthusiasm for the subject matter; in no sense could it be described as an easy read. It could have been improved with more illustrations and parts might have been omitted. There are inevitable absencesFthis is gendered story of white European/North American menFand there is certainly a case for greater contextualisation. Overall, however, the book should be seen as a tour de force relevant to anyone seeking insight into how such seemingly disparate disciplines as geography and medicine came together. As a synthesis of a huge literature and an example of sustained inquiry, it is, particularly in its middle chapters, a welcome addition to knowledge. Graham Moon University of Portsmouth, Institute for the Geography of Health, Milldam Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3AS, UK E-mail address: [email protected]