M. M. Drymon

Disguised As the Devil: How Lyme Disease Created Witches and Changed History M. M. Drymon

This major new work began as a history of Lyme disease. Looking in the archival records of places where this disease might have occurred in the past, the author noted that afflictions associated with witchcraft kept appearing in those same places. Was there a connection between Lyme disease and the European concept of the witch? Was the Devil's mark of a witch really the 'Bull's Eye' rash of Lyme disease? Looking back, into the forested landscapes of a past that is abound with oak trees, acorns, deer, pigs, and other animals, human societies can be found among them, creating and participating in cultural practices that have environmental ramifications. Drawing upon the latest in scientific and historical research, this work will become essential reading for those interested in Lyme disease. It also explores the etiology of the witch and tells a compelling tale about the timeless importance of the interaction between humanity and the "invisible world" of bacteria.