Maladies of Empire

In "Maladies of Empire," Jim Downs reexamines the foundations of modern medicine by highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of nonconsenting individuals, including conscripted soldiers, enslaved people, and subjects of empire. He illustrates how plantations, slave ships, and battlefields served as pivotal settings for understanding infectious diseases, revealing how military doctors and statisticians relied on the exploitation of these groups to develop essential medical knowledge. This bold exploration sheds light on the ethical implications of medical progress and the hidden costs associated with advances in public health.