The terror of yellow fever conjures images of mass infection of soldiers during the Spanish-American War and horrific death tolls among workers on the Panama Canal. Medical science has never found a cure and the disease continues to present a threat to the modern world, both as a mosquito-borne epidemic and as a potential biological weapon. Drawing on firsthand accounts and contemporary sources, this book traces the history of the viral infection that has claimed countless victims across the United States, Central America and Africa, and of the global effort to combat this challenging and deadly disease.

Scientifically known as Variola major, the deadliest form of smallpox has plagued mankind since ""time immemorial."" This text chronicles the worldwide effects of the killer disease, with particular emphasis on the 19th and 20th centuries, including the devastations of the ""speckled disease"" during great armed conflicts. Specific attention is paid to the development and utilization of Dr. Edward Jenner's vaccination, chronicling the anti-vaccination movement, the evolving concept of compulsory vaccination and the global march toward eradication. Legal and moral challenges, the National Vaccine Institute, the treatment of American Indians and African Americans, immigrants, the often bloody quarantine battles, germ warfare, superstitions and home remedies are addressed from the historical perspectives of those who lived through and those who died of this scourge.

To both young and old, the circus remains an icon of American entertainment, a wholesome pastime untouched by the passing years. But the modern circus, with its three rings, ringmaster, animals, and acrobats, is the product of nearly three hundred years of evolution. This intriguing work chronicles the history of the American circus from its roots in England through its importation to America to the end of the nineteenth century. It introduces the early pioneers of the circus, addresses business concerns such as management and training, and discusses the development of the show itself, including the incorporation of menageries, the need for animal training and care, the addition of circus music, the use of the tent, and the unique attractions of side shows and freaks. Personal stories of those who made their lives under the big top are woven throughout the narrative, adding an intimate perspective to one of America's most enduring entertainments.

The ""King of Terrors"" is more prevalent today than at any time throughout history. In seven major cholera pandemics beginning in 1817, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Although called ""The disease of filth,"" the deadly effects of cholera spared no one, no matter their station in life. This book presents a chronological depiction of the disease by those who suffered its ravages, using their own words from hundreds of newspapers and letters whenever possible. In so doing, the speculations, missteps, sidetracks and prevailing fears are emphasised. The authors describe the agonisingly slow march of progress toward discovering the causes and the treatment of symptoms. Along the way, the heroes of past and present are introduced: men and women who fought for their beliefs-at times against vitriolic and powerful opponents, including the medical authorities of their day.

The steamboat evokes images of leisurely travel, genteel gambling, and lively commerce, but behind the romanticized view is an engineering marvel that led the way for the steam locomotive. From the steamboat's development by Robert Fulton to the dawn of the Civil War, the new mode of transportation opened up America's frontiers and created new trade routes and economic centers. Firsthand accounts of steamboat accidents, races, business records and river improvements are collected here to reveal the culture and economy of the early to mid-1800s, as well as the daily routines of crew and passengers. A glossary of steamboat terms and a collection of contemporary accounts of accidents round out this history of the riverboat era.

Capitalizing on Darren McGavin's irresistible charm and his success on the small screen, Revue Studios cast him in their new series, Riverboat, which premiered in 1959. Since McGavin was also starring in Mike Hammer at the same time, he became the first actor to simultaneously star in two television series. Co-starring the young and inexperienced Burt Reynolds, the series captured a devout audience but suffered from numerous production problems, including what later became a well-publicized feud between McGavin and Reynolds. After completing thirty-one episodes its first season, Riverboat was renewed (with the costarring role going to Noah Beery, Jr.), but lasted only thirteen more episodes. Now, fifty years later, though never released on video or DVD by Universal Studios, Riverboat maintains a devoted fan base. S.L. Kotar and J.E. Gessler, are webmasters of Darren and Kathie Browne's authorized web site (www.darrenmcgavin.com), and wrote the highest-rated episode in Gunsmoke's twenty-year history.