Bacteria and Bayonets

"...describes the impact of disease in American Military history from Columbus' early explorations through the recent terrorist activities...does a good job of telling the story of how battlefield medicine has evolved to keep up with changing tactics and different types of enemies..." ~Civil War News

"Putting 400 years of history in under 300 pages is a daunting task. Doing a readable history on this subject is an equally daunting task. The good news is the author is able to accomplish both, producing an informative, enjoyable and readable history... both a history of how disease shaped America’s wars and how we worked to conquer disease... a balanced historical account without lurid accusations or speculations. The author is always careful to point out the reasonable causes and impacts. The decimation of Native Americans is a result of two very different cultures meeting, not deliberate action. However, this did make settlement of the “New World” easier or even possible. The majority of the text, about 80%, covers through World War I. The balance looks at World War II and modern day problems. The book is full of historical tidbits that are interesting and thought provoking. Many problems result from tainted food, bad water or poor sanitation. An inaugural dinner party that almost killed the President, German agents trying to kill horses in 1916 for example. This is a serious history with endnotes, bibliography and a full index. Illustrations abound from woodcuts to photographs. This well-made handsome book is a pleasure to hold and to read." ~James Durney, Author

"... presents a concise history of the role of disease in shaping military conquests throughout American history. The broad historical importance of disease has long been an area of scholarly research, but this book focuses more narrowly on how disease shaped the outcome of battles and wars, such as the initial European conquest of the Americas in the 16th century and the World Wars of the 20th century. The narrative highlights the unpredictable and unintended consequences of epidemic diseases that often followed armies and provides the long history of attempts to use disease as a weapon. The final chapter explores recent research on weaponizing microbes and accompanying concerns about the potential use of disease by terrorists. The expansive historical sweep of this relatively short book makes it particularly well suited as a resource for undergraduate history students. Many of the incidents mentioned have been explored in more depth by other historians, yet Petriello provides a brief, well-organized synthesis of American medical and military histories. ..Petriello does provide an admirably extensive and current bibliography." ~Choice

"... makes some interesting observations by noting, for example, instances in which a particular commander was laid low at a critical moment, or not taken ill despite epidemic conditions, which arguably influenced the course of events in ways we can but speculate about. Although the topic of disease and its influence on history has been dealt with before, this is a very good, entertaining and thoughtful work." ~The NYMAS Review

“The impact of disease on military operations has long been recognized, but David Petriello has charted hitherto unexplored waters with his linkage of disease to American military history… Petriello has incorporated the fruits of prodigious research, and displayed commendable scholarship with this seminal and innovative study. The book is illustrated, endnoted, and contains a valuable bibliography. This volume should be in the library of any serious student of American military history.” ~The Journal of America’s Military Past

"One of the reasons Petriello’s work is important to those who study war and warfare is because it helps us think about the role disease could play in the future of war... Bacteria and Bayonets is a well-researched book, based on a wealth of firsthand accounts, biographies, scientific studies and official government reports." ~Maj. Joe Byerly, ARMY

“…a solid survey, integrating medical with military history. He thus makes a valuable contribution, as the two fields are usually viewed in relative isolation, in which mainstream historians pay lip service only to the huge role of disease in past wars. Petriello joins a growing number of historians who see military history in a larger societal context, integrating it with environmental, economic, and broad cultural factors. The book is well researched and written.” ~The Historian, Volume 80, No. 1