I've just finished plugging through Rothman's account of the social experience of Tuberculosis in American history, and I have to admit this book leaves a lot to be desired. Although the author claims in the introduction that this "does not pretend to tell the story of all Americans who contracted tuberculosis", the segments of society it does reference do not seem to be a fair cross section of society at this point in history. We are led to believe that a great deal of the population affected were poor, minority immigrants, yet the personal accounts referenced appear to be generated from the middle to upper class. Perhaps this is a result of the types of narratives available.
That being said, Part IV : Becoming a Patient 1882-1940 proved to be the most interesting and enlightening source in my opinion. A significant part of the social experience involves how the various authorities and institutions approached consumption and TB. The threat of any sort of epidemic was very real at that time, and the same holds true today. The manner in which the disease was stigmatized and addressed is echoed in modern times with regard to HIV. Rothman alludes to this connection briefly throughout the book and in the epilogue, but I wish she would have expanded on this a bit. I truly do not mean to downplay the author's research and insight into this significant time in American history. Perhaps I am just searching for a more comprehensive look at the 'Social Experience' that comprises a greater population of society at that time.
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