Poisons of the Past: Molds, Epidemics, and History
Poisons of the Past: Molds, Epidemics, and History
Couldn't load pickup availability
Did food poisoning cause the Black Plague, the Salem witch-hunts, and other significant events in human history? In this pathbreaking book, historian Mary Kilbourne Matossian argues that epidemics, sporadic outbursts of bizarre behavior, and low fertility and high death rates from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries may have been caused by food poisoning from microfungi in bread, the staple food in Europe and America during this period.
“A bold book with a stimulating thesis. Matossian’s claims for the role of food poisoning will need to be incorporated into any satisfactory account of past demographic trends.”—John Walter, Nature
“Matossian’s work is innovative and original, modest and reasoned, and opens a door on our general human past that historians have not only ignored, but often did not even know existed.”—William Richardson, Environmental History Review
“This work demonstrates an impressive variety of cross-national sources. Its broad sweep also reveals the importance of the history of agriculture and food and strengthens the view that the shift from the consumption of mold-poisoned rye bread to the potato significantly contributed to an improvement in the mental and physical health of Europeans and Americans.”—Naomi Rogers, Journal of American History
“This work is a true botanical-historical tour de force.”—Rudolf Schmid, Journal of the International Association of Plant Taxonomy
“Intriguing and lucid.”—William K. Beatty, Journal of the American Medical Association
Share

Let customers speak for us
from 23 reviewsThe natural paper, design, love it all

Great store I love that it a second hand Canadian bookstore

I order online great experience. I love the selection. I like it canadian used book store online
Fast shipping, arrived in great condition, would shop again in the future.
To have found a copy of my most beloved childhood book made me happier than words can express.
The book arrived swiftly, well packaged, and of good quality. The price was absolutely reasonable and they were able to ship internationally. I highly recommend this seller.
I hope to read this book to my future grandchildren.

Such a cute bookstore with a wide range of books. The prices are really good and the lady who runs it is extremely nice and friendly.
Like shopping The Bookstore! Lots of selection, CDs, and video too. Worth the stop. 😊
Great little bookstore in the town of Durham. Nella is great and can order you anything you can't find in the store
Always a awesome experience! Great books and other things. Nella is always do great to see and talk to.