Typhus fever is known as a historical scourge in times of war, famine and population upheaval, but this is only one of four types; the other three, each carried by a different insect, are still important causes of human disease in many parts of the world. The history of each type is described, and the intriguing recent discovery that the responsible bacteria are close cousins of the mitochondria which provide energy inside every living cell on the planet is discussed. About the Author George Cowan is a retired British Army physician with interests in tropical medicine who has worked on four continents and often cared for local people. His inquiry into typhus fever was stimulated by military cases of 'scrub typhus' in Malaysia and Singapore in 1970 and has since embraced the history of all four varieties of typhus. In 2008 he received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the University of St Andrews, after graduating with an honours degree in Humanities from the Open University in 2007.

For the thousands of people affected by severe obesity, the decision to undergo weight loss surgery can be a matter of life and death. But it is not a simple procedure. That's why, for many, the decision does not come easily. To help you make the best possible choice, a dynamic team of experts have come together to share their experience, knowledge, and findings about these procedures. Merle Cantor Goldberg is one of this country's leading psychotherapists specializing in eating disorders; Drs. Cowan and Marcus have helped develop many of the techniques used in bariatric surgery, and have also taught these procedures to hundreds of other surgeons. "Weight Loss Surgery begins by asking important questions that must be considered before any decision is made. It then presents a comprehensive overview of pre-op visits, the various weight loss surgeries available, and the post-op recovery period, examining both the psychological and the physical impacts of the surgery. Weight loss surgery is not a minor procedure, but when appropriate, it can save lives. This thoughtful book offers the information you need to make the decision that's right for you.