06/29/2025
‘Dissolving Illusions’ by Suzanne Humphries MD is one of the best books you can own on the history of disease and vaccinations.
📖 Key points from the book:
• Major infectious diseases, including smallpox, polio, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria, and whooping cough, experienced significant declines in mortality and incidence in developed nations during the 19th and early 20th centuries, long before vaccines were introduced or widely implemented. For example, smallpox mortality in England decreased by over 90% from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s due to non-vaccine interventions, such as improved public health measures.
• Public health advancements, including clean water systems, effective sewage disposal, and enhanced hygiene practices, were the primary drivers in reducing the spread of waterborne and contagious diseases. Diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery, which were rampant in unsanitary conditions, saw sharp declines after cities implemented piped water and waste management systems. For instance, cholera outbreaks in London dropped significantly after the 1850s following sanitation reforms, such as those prompted by John Snow’s identification of contaminated water sources.
• Malnutrition significantly contributed to high disease mortality in impoverished populations during the 19th and early 20th centuries. As access to better-quality food and increased food availability improved, immune systems became stronger, reducing susceptibility to infections. Historical data shows that diseases like tuberculosis and measles had higher mortality rates among malnourished groups, and their decline coincided with improved diets and rising living standards.
• Vaccines are frequently credited with eradicating diseases, but historical data demonstrates that many diseases were already in steep decline before vaccines were introduced. For example, measles mortality in the United States dropped by over 98% from 1900 to the early 1960s, prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963. Similarly, scarlet fever nearly disappeared without the use of a widely implemented vaccine, driven by better living conditions and medical care.
• Historical disease records and mortality statistics contain inconsistencies, with public health authorities selectively presenting data to exaggerate the impact of vaccination campaigns. Graphs from England and Wales show that smallpox mortality declined significantly before mandatory vaccination programs, contradicting claims that vaccines were the primary factor in its control.
• Early vaccination efforts, particularly for smallpox, caused significant complications and adverse effects. Smallpox vaccinations in the 19th century led to outbreaks, infections, and other issues, including the transmission of syphilis due to unhygienic practices. Vaccinated individuals sometimes contracted the disease, indicating that early vaccines were less effective than claimed.
• Changes in medical diagnostic criteria and disease classification distorted historical disease trends. Conditions once diagnosed as polio in the early 20th century are now classified as other illnesses, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome or acute flaccid paralysis, due to stricter diagnostic standards. This reclassification falsely attributes the decline of polio to vaccines, as the disease’s apparent disappearance aligns with changes in reporting practices.
• The medical establishment has consistently underemphasized the role of non-medical factors, such as sanitation, nutrition, reduced overcrowding, better housing, and advancements in medical care (e.g., antibiotics and antitoxin therapy), in reducing disease mortality. For example, diphtheria mortality fell significantly due to improved treatments like antitoxin therapy and sanitation improvements before the widespread use of its vaccine.
• Historical data, including death certificates, government health reports, and medical literature, reveal that the decline of infectious diseases resulted from a complex interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors, rather than vaccines alone. Public health narratives have conditioned the public to attribute disease reduction solely to vaccines, ignoring these broader contributions.