The Contagious City: The Politics of Public Heath in Early Philadelphia

(Cornell University Press) Fearful of urban disease, the colonists of Pennsylvania tried to create new urban forms that combined the commercial advantages of a seaport with the health benefits of the country. This book details how early Americans, especially key figures like Benjamin Franklin, struggled to preserve their health against the strange new colonial environment and the traditional dangers of city life during a period of transformation in politics and medicine. Finger is a visiting assistant professor of history and humanities at Reed College.