The Secret of the Yellow Death

The Secret of the Yellow Death: A True Story of Medical Sleuthing by Suzanne Jurmain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Although I have heard about the Walter Reed Medical Center all of my life, I didn't really know anything about Walter Reed.  This book really gave a good picture of who this man was as he dedicated himself to finding a cure for yellow fever. In 1900 yellow fever was a serious threat, and no one knew the cause.  Reed and a team of medical doctors went to Cuba, where yellow fever was rampant, to try to isolate the cause.  Jurmain, the author, combed primary sources in order to gather this fascinating account.  It is hard not to wince when reading about how the men slept in the clothes and bedding of those who suffered with yellow fever in order to eliminate contagion from contaminated environment as a cause. The Cuban physician Carlos Finlay's idea that mosquitoes caused yellow fever ended up being the cause, but what a price the doctors paid in order to scientifically prove the idea.  They deliberately exposed themselves to infected mosquitoes and battled the disease that had killed so many people.  The book leaves the reader with a real respect for the doctors who sacrificed so much for the good of all.  Truly a fascinating read for middle and high school readers. 



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