Title: “Foreign Bodies: Simon Schama’s Latest Book Explores the History of Pandemics and the Heroes Fighting Them”
Subtitle: “A Biography of Waldemar Mordechai Wolff Haffkine, the Unsung Scientist Who Battled Deadly Diseases and Pioneered Vaccines”
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In his latest book, “Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines, and the Health of Nations,” renowned historian Simon Schama delves into the captivating history of pandemics and the heroic scientists who fought against them. Specifically, Schama highlights the remarkable life and achievements of Waldemar Mordechai Wolff Haffkine, a scientist who successfully developed home-brewed vaccines to combat cholera and bubonic plague during tumultuous times.
Schama’s book, written amidst the recent global health emergency, reflects on past outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, smallpox, and plagues, drawing parallels with the current situation. However, it goes beyond a mere historical account, serving as a partly veiled biography of Haffkine, a saintly yet often forgotten figure within the realms of bacteriology and Judaica.
Born in Odessa in 1860, Haffkine dedicated his life to defending his community from the relentless Russian pogroms. His scientific journey led him to Switzerland and France, where he trained at the prestigious Pasteur Institute. Captivated by the scourge of cholera, he developed a homemade concoction and ventured to India in 1893 to test its efficacy. Haffkine’s vaccine proved to be a resounding success, saving millions of lives.
His most incredible achievement came five years later when he developed a vaccine for eradicating bubonic plague. Schama, admittedly not a biologist, describes Haffkine’s painstaking process of manufacturing the vaccine with enthralling technical precision. From extracting noxious fluids from infected individuals to nurturing the resulting silky threads of bacilli, Haffkine’s contributions to India’s public health were immense.
Despite his monumental accomplishments, Haffkine faced opposition from British colonial authorities who resented his success. The colonial administration’s approaches to dealing with infections were typically marked by brute force and destruction, resulting in limited success. Haffkine’s foreign origins and adherence to a different belief system further irritated the British. Eventually, he was forced out of India and settled in Marseille, France, before spending his final years in Lausanne.
Schama’s book concludes with a compelling show of support for Dr. Anthony Fauci and an unexpected homage to the Atlantic horseshoe crab. The author draws attention to the vital role these creatures play in modern vaccine manufacturing due to their blue blood. However, these sections seem like afterthoughts compared to the captivating story of Haffkine’s heroism.
“Foreign Bodies” serves as a reminder of the immense contributions made by scientists throughout history to combat deadly diseases. By focusing on the life and work of Waldemar Mordechai Wolff Haffkine, Schama reminds readers that heroes exist within the scientific community, countering the potentially catastrophic damage inflicted by others.
With Schama’s impeccable storytelling skills and extensive research, “Foreign Bodies” offers a fascinating and inspiring tribute to the unsung heroes who have dedicated their lives to preserving the health of nations.
“Foreign Bodies: Pandemics, Vaccines, and the Health of Nations” by Simon Schama is available for purchase from Ecco at a retail price of $32.99.
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