THE TRUTH ABOUT STD: The Old Ones--Herpes and Other New Ones--The Primary Causes--The Available Cures

Short, worthwhile social-biology lessons on the sexually-transmitted diseases--not meant as a guide for sufferers. Chase (Magic Shots) is reasonably nontechnical and not uninteresting in his descriptions of gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease, syphilis, genital herpes, hepatitis, immunodeficiency disease, and others. Examining the origin and development of these problems, he weighs in changes in population patterns and social structures, advances in treatment, and age-group shifts. He also discusses the latest hopes in treatment and eradication, and puts them in context. ""Most of the rich and highly educated nations,"" he notes, ""go on parroting the dogma that only germs and viruses and other microbial agents cause venereal disease and that nothing else is involved."" Before we can really begin to cure, he insists with reason, we have to accept the role that wars, poverty, loneliness, isolation, and other social factors play. He's provided a neat introduction.