Seattle Press on Line - New Book Documents Old Disease

Fine Roman Hand

New Book Documents Old Disease

By Stephen Herold

Seattle author Norma Mohr.

Mar 14, 2002 -- Our modern lives in the richest First World nation of all time, filled with comfort and almost magical health care, blinds us to the true and continuing state of most of mankind. We make lip service about the Third World poor and "street people" who momentarily bring harsh reality before our eyes, and then pass on to our boutiques and fusion restaurants. Yet even now this fantasy may be short-lived as we abuse our powerful drugs and re-introduce resistant strains of old killers, whether due to ignorant Saigon street merchants or hysterical Jewish mothers demanding antibiotics for their children's colds. Already those who work in health see the terrible consequences of our ignorance and pride, and our children may soon start dying again from old assassins that we thought we extinct.

In the history of civilized mankind no disease has been more constant and deadly, year after year, than malaria. The irony is that we and our urban civilizations are likely the vector for its spread and ubiquitous attacks on world health. Originally isolated to lightly populated tropical zones and kept there by limited wandering, malaria spread rapidly with crop cultivation, irrigation and trade. In an enlightening book, Seattle's Norma Mohr has documented the history and medical urgency of the disease in Malaria: Evolution of a Killer (Serif & Pixel Press, $19.95).

Malaria in Fremont

Fremont's Wit's End Bookstore will be hosting a book release and signing party for Malaria by Norma Mohr, published by Seattle's own Serif & Pixel Press. The author will be available to discuss her book and sign copies on Saturday, March 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. Norma is a Seattle author and this book is the result of 10 years work studying this terrible disease. Light refreshments will be available.

Wit's End is located at 770 North 34th Street and their phone is 206-547-2330.

Norma and her late husband were journalists who specialized in covering the Third World for the Associated Press, The Washington Post, the New York Times and Time magazine. In their work, Norma saw how pervasive malaria was, and how destructive of all efforts to improve the lives of tropical peoples. The disease proved especially deadly to women and children, whose weaker immune systems and more sedentary village life exposed them to infection at higher-than-normal rates. After her return home to America, Norma worked diligently on women's issues and this book on malaria. In the process, she documented a far wider picture than she originally imagined, especially concerning the extensive presence of malaria in the United States. The result is a fascinating book written in clear prose that anyone can follow.

The book is divided into three sections: malaria in the United States, the history of the disease, and malaria in the Third World. When the Europeans first came to this continent, malaria was found up the East Coast as far as New England, and epidemics have even been documented in the Columbia River valley in the 19th century. With the rise of drug-resistant varieties and new introductions from world travelers, the disease is again making a comeback in this country, and it is now important to sit up and pay attention. I have seen this danger firsthand with a friend who, on a trip to the Ecuadorian Amazon, contracted a drug-resistant strain of malaria and almost died.

Mohr's history of the disease discusses its likely origins, the endless series of epidemics and our attempts to combat its ravages, from the discovery of quinine to modern chemical drugs. This section ends with a full discussion of current attempts to control malaria and how successful they have been.

The third section introduces her personal experiences in the tropical world, and she speaks from direct involvement in the complications of malaria. Here she presents not only material on its earliest history in the tropics, but also the sad story of its devastating impact on poor, developing cultures. The book finishes with an extensive bibliography documenting her research and opening doors to further understanding.

After reading this book I came to realize that malaria is not a distant problem of poor and uncivilized regions but an issue in our own backyard or bedroom. I strongly recommend reading this book.

Stephen Herold is a scholar, poet and calligrapher who spends his life creating books and running wonderful bookstores. He currently runs Books AtoZ, a digital publishing service company, and Wit's End Bookstore & Teashop in Fremont.

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