Allergy: The History of a Modern Malady

When Clemens von Pirquet introduced the term allergy in 1906, many experts questioned whether one word could cover a whole constellation of sensitivities. As Jackson demonstrates, the term eventually gained acceptance, but its meaning remains slippery. The beauty of Jackson's study is his combination of the cultural and social with the medical, the result of which is a masterful overview of the evolution of allergy as a public health problem. Including detailed analyses of the debates over the role of the immune system in allergy and the different treatments for hypersensitivity, Jackson simultaneously surveys images of allergy in pop culture-from poet Ann Sexton to cyberpunk science fiction author Jeff Noon-as well as the term's common currency as shorthand for intense dislike (being ""allergic"" to housework). Tracing allergy from a malady of the elite to a global pandemic, Jackson explores theories behind the surge in allergies, including the rise in industrial toxins and unhealthy home and work conditions. Some readers may find Jackson's style dry, and his analysis of medical debates may go over some heads, but his book provides a comprehensive look at allergies as a phenomenon in culture, politics and science.