Asleep: The Forgotten Epidemic

Asleep: The Forgotten Epidemic chronicles the mysterious sleeping sickness that swept across Europe and North America in the early 20th century. The disease, encephalitis lethargica, caused victims to fall into deep states of sleep from which many never awoke. The narrative follows Dr. Constantin von Economo in Vienna and Dr. Frederick Tilney in New York as they race to understand this baffling illness. Through their work at the height of the 1918-1927 epidemic, the book reconstructs the medical community's efforts to diagnose and treat the disease that affected nearly five million people. The book includes first-hand accounts from patients, doctors, and families impacted by the sleeping sickness epidemic. Crosby presents their stories alongside the scientific and historical context of the period, including the concurrent influenza pandemic. Through this medical mystery, the book explores themes of scientific discovery, public health response to epidemics, and the limitations of medical knowledge. The epidemic's impact resonates with modern questions about emerging diseases and society's preparedness to face them.

Readers found this medical history account readable and engaging, appreciating how Crosby wove together patient stories with the broader epidemic narrative. Many noted the book brought attention to a forgotten disease that killed over a million people. Likes: - Clear explanations of complex medical concepts - Personal stories that humanized the epidemic - Strong research and historical detail - Connections drawn to modern epidemics and public health Dislikes: - Some found the narrative structure confusing with multiple timeline jumps - Several readers wanted more scientific depth - A few noted repetitive passages - Some felt certain patient stories ended abruptly Review Stats: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (180+ ratings) Sample Reader Comment: "Fascinating slice of medical history that reads like a medical thriller. The personal stories really drive home the human cost of this epidemic." -Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in details and loses narrative momentum." -Amazon reviewer

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🌟 The epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (sleeping sickness) affected nearly five million people worldwide between 1915 and 1927, yet remains largely forgotten in medical history. 🧪 Dr. Constantin von Economo, who first identified the disease, discovered that many patients who survived the initial illness developed severe Parkinson's-like symptoms years or even decades later. 🏥 New York's Willard State Hospital housed hundreds of sleeping sickness patients, some of whom would remain motionless for weeks or months before suddenly becoming alert and active. ✍️ Author Molly Caldwell Crosby previously wrote "The American Plague," a acclaimed book about the 1878 yellow fever epidemic in Memphis, which killed more people than the Chicago Fire, San Francisco Earthquake, and Johnstown Flood combined. 💉 Some patients treated with L-DOPA in the 1960s (as depicted in the movie "Awakenings") were survivors of the 1920s sleeping sickness epidemic, having spent decades in a statue-like state before receiving the experimental treatment.