Allan M. Brandt's Magic Bullet '

Magic Bullet, It’s a book about a study on the American people and how their reaction to certain diseases has had a significant effect on the way people react or respond to the problem. In this particular book the author, Allan M. Brandt, concentrates his study on several venereal transmitted diseases such as syphilis, herpes, gonorrhea and AIDS. This venereal diseases are often labeled and often related to sinful behaviors, often related to a specific group of people, for example: the LGBT community, extramarital intimate relationship, criminals, prostitutes and immigrants. In this study morals is an important part of the judgment against venereal diseases. For conservative moralists the solution to the problem was abstinence of having frequent …show more content…
Not all was against this infected people in society, liberal rationalist accepted sexual freedom and those who were looking forward in obtaining medical and technological help in order to find treatment for these venereal diseases. Different than moralist, liberalist’s strategies were to utilize cost benefit analysis, with emphasis on prevention and finding an effective treatment through appropriate research. Allan Brandt describes the sociopolitical history of venereal disease since the late 19th century as a conflict between these two groups, the moralists and the rationalists. The moralists have gradually gained some ground in the venereal disease field but still employ what Brandt considers as a negative influence for the community. In the other hand the rationalists have been able to manage to expand their power as a social group and have dominated in the field, trying to succeed in eliminating the stigma from venereal diseases and from obliterating the disease …show more content…
Of course prohibition resulted in impulse to obtain what was already prohibited. According to Brandt there were several factor to consider, to start a better knowledge of the various infections. Syphilis and Gonorrhea both spread extragenitally or gentally, innocent third parties such as spouse or unborn children. As a result of the awareness of the consecuences of venerian diseases, such as paresis, sterility and death. More search and intestigation was needed in order to obtain an effective prevention and treatment system. Society, specialy the moralists, became more and more concern and also interested in finding an effective preventing method and or treatment during the two world war, when it was feared that the military manpower will get infected and drain due to the spread of venarian diseases. Moralists stepped up a propaganda against venereal diseases and the pressure during the wars, they also had to give into tolerating preventive treatment. According to Brandt preventive treatment was the reason why the levels of venereal diseases remain relativetly low among American