Theobald Smith

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Theobald Smith

Born July 31, 1859 (1859-07-31)
Albany, New York
Died December 10, 1934 (aged 75)
New York City, New York
Nationality American
Fields Epidemiology
Institutions US Department of Agriculture, Harvard University, Rockefeller University
Alma mater Cornell University, Albany Medical College
Notable awards Copley Medal

Theobald Smith (July 31, 1859 – December 10, 1934) was a pioneering epidemiologist and pathologist and is widely-considered to be America's first internationally-significant medical research scientist.[1]

Contents

[edit] Education

Smith was born in Albany, New York, and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from Cornell University in 1881, followed by an MD degree from Albany Medical College in 1883.[1] After his graduation from medical school, Smith held a variety of temporary positions which might broadly be considered under the modern heading of "medical laboratory technician". After some prodding by his former professors, Smith secured a new research lab assistant position with the Veterinary Division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C., beginning his position there in December 1883.[2]

[edit] Research

Smith became the Inspector of the newly created Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) in 1884. Established by Congress to combat a wide range of animal diseases—from infectious disease of swine to bovine pneumonia, Texas cattle fever to glanders—Smith worked under Daniel E. Salmon, a veterinarian and Chief of the BAI.[3]

After two years of work studying the efficacy of bacterial vaccination in pigs Smith erroneously believed he had found the causative agent of hog cholera. While he was incorrect, he had discovered a new species of bacteria (Salmonella enterica, formerly called Salmonella choleraesuis).[4]

Smith turned his attention to Texas fever, a debilitating cattle disease. In 1889, he discovered Babesia bigemina, the tick-borne protozoan parasite responsible for Texas fever. This marked the first time that an arthropod had been definitively linked with the transmission of an infectious disease and presaged the eventual discovery of insects as important vectors in a number of diseases (see yellow fever, malaria).

Smith also taught at Columbian University in Washington, D.C. (now George Washington University) from 1886–1895, establishing the school's Department of Bacteriology. In 1887, Smith began research on water sanitation in his spare time, investigating the level of fecal coliform contamination in the Potomac river. Over the next five years, Smith expanded his studies to include the Hudson river and its tributaries.[5]

While Smith's work at the BAI had been highly productive, he chaffed under the federal government bureaucracy and the lack of leadership from his supervisor. In 1895 Smith moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to accept a dual appointment: serve as professor of comparative pathology at Harvard University, as well as directing the pathology lab at the Massachusetts State Board of Health.[2]

Smith joined the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research as Director of the Department of Animal Pathology in 1915 and remained there until his retirement in 1929.

In 1933, Smith was awarded the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal "For his original research and observation on diseases of animals and man.".

[edit] Other discoveries

  • Observed differences between human and bovine tuberculosis (1895).
  • Discussed the possibility of mosquitos as a malaria transmission vector (1899).
  • Variation and bacterial pathogenesis (1900).
  • Discovered anaphylaxis (1903).
  • Brucellosis infections
  • Smith used toxin/antitoxin as a vaccine for diphtheria (1909).
  • In the process of investigating an epidemic of infectious abortions of cattle in 1919, Smith described the bacteria responsible for fetal membrane disease in cows now known as Campylobacter fetus.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Dolman CE; Wolfe RJ. (2003). Suppressing the Diseases of Animals and Man : Theobald Smith, Microbiologist. Boston Medical Library. ISBN 0-674-01220-8. 
  2. ^ a b de Kruif P (2002 reprint of 1926 original). Microbe Hunters. Harvest Books. ISBN 0-15-602777-1. 
  3. ^ Brown JH (1935). "Theobald Smith 1859-1934". J Bacteriol. 30 (1): 1–3. 
  4. ^ "Theobald Smith, 1859-1934: A Fiftieth Anniversary Tribute." (1984). ASM News 50: 577–580. 
  5. ^ Smith T (1893). "A new method for determining quantitatively the pollution of water by fecal bacteria.". 13th Annual Report of the State Board of Health of New York for 1892.: 712–722. 
  6. ^ Smith T; Taylor MS. (1919). "Some morphological and biological characters of the Spirilla (Vibrio fetus, n. sp.) associated with the disease of the fetal membranes in cattle.". J Exp Med. 30: 299–311. doi:10.1084/jem.30.4.299. 


Persondata
NAME Smith, Theobald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION American epidemiologist
DATE OF BIRTH July 31, 1859
PLACE OF BIRTH Albany, New York
DATE OF DEATH December 10, 1934
PLACE OF DEATH New York City, New York
Languages