Uncertainty and Emotion in the 1900 Sydney Plague

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The book explores the response to the third global plague pandemic in Sydney during 1900, highlighting the evolving theories of disease transmission and the resulting conflicts among medical and government authorities. It examines how symbols such as dirt were strategically utilized to elicit emotional reactions, influencing political and social interventions. The analysis demonstrates how disgust and aversion were mobilized to legitimize institutional actions, shaping social identity in the lead-up to Australia's 1901 Federation, while contributing to contemporary discussions on the interplay between knowledge and emotion.