Lessons From the Political History of Epidemiology for Divisive Times

Historical precursors of the field we now call epidemiology date back to Hippocrates. Modern epidemiological science, however, developed as domestic and international infectious disease transmission accompanied industrialization, some nations' economic growth, and colonial powers' military expansion and dominance. This article canvasses ways in which modern epidemiology influenced public health innovation from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century. Specifically, this article suggests which lessons can be gleaned from political dimensions of epidemiology's history and applied to orientations to medicine and public health today.