In 1843 he was credited with the discovery of
the contagiousness of puerperal fever
. He served as dean of Harvard Medical School from 1847 to 1853. He is most famous for his comic verse and poetry.
Who discovered the contagiousness of puerperal fever?
One hundred years ago a 33 year old
American physician, Oliver Wendell Holmes
, convincingly described for the first time in this country the contagiousness of puerperal infection.
What was Oliver Wendell Holmes known for?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, (born Aug. 29, 1809, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 7, 1894, Cambridge), American physician, poet, and humorist notable for his medical research and teaching, and as
the author of the “Breakfast-Table” series of essays
.
What is Holmes known for besides poetry?
Although mainly known as a poet, Holmes wrote
numerous medical treatises, essays, novels, memoirs and table-talk books
.
What is Oliver Wendell Holmes most famous works?
His most famous prose works are
the “The Breakfast Table” series
. Holmes was educated at Phillips Academy and Harvard College. He graduated from Harvard College in 1829, and then briefly studied law before turning to the study of medicine.
What religion was Wendell Holmes?
Religion and Insanity
In the magazine's second issue, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., the son of a Calvinist clergyman, poked fun at the
rigid orthodoxy of Calvinism
and similar religions, suggesting that intelligent people subjected to such harsh beliefs tended to go crazy in self-defense.
Did Oliver Wendell Holmes fight in the Civil War?
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
spent three terrible years fighting in the Civil War
. By any standard his experience was horrific. He was wounded three times, suffered a nearly fatal bout of dysentery, and endured the deaths of many of his closest friends.
What is the Black Death of childbed?
Described as the “saviour of mothers”, Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of
puerperal fever
(also known as “childbed fever”) could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Puerperal fever was common in mid-19th-century hospitals and often fatal.
What is pleural sepsis?
Puerperal sepsis is
an infection of the genital tract occurring at any time between the rupture of membranes or labour and the 42nd day post partum
, in which, two or more of the following are present: pelvic pain. fever (oral temperature 38.5°C or higher on any occasion)
What was childbirth fever?
Puerperal fever
was a devastating disease. It affected women within the first three days after childbirth and progressed rapidly, causing acute symptoms of severe abdominal pain, fever and debility.
When was WF Holmes born?
Oliver Wendell Holmes was born in Cambridge, Mass., on
Aug. 29, 1809
, scion of a well-established New England family. Following his graduation from Harvard in 1829, he studied at the law school for a year (during which time he wrote the popular poem “Old Ironsides”).
What did Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes say about free speech?
Holmes wrote: The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic….
