Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1531

RENE LAROCHE (1795-1872) Yellow fever, considered in its historical, pathological, etiological, and therapeutical relations. Blanchard and Lea 1855 Vol. I: [lxi] [3] [17]-615 [1] 32 pp.; Vol. II: viii [17]-813 pp. 23.1 cm.

La Roche, a native of Philadelphia, served in the War of 1812 and was also engaged in business before entering medical school at the University of Pennsylvania in 1817. After graduation, he became an active practitioner, writer, editor, and member of state and county medical societies. The present work is his most important contribution and was the most comprehensive and complete source of information on yellow fever published up to that time. Although the vector and causative organism of this dreaded disease were not discovered for another half century, La Roche's major intent was to summarize all of the yellow fever epidemics that had occurred in Philadelphia since 1699 and to examine the nature and probable causes of the disease. La Roche discusses the disease's clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and the arguments concerning contagion and non-contagion in great detail. In the course of preparing the book, he amassed considerable literature concerning yellow fever and includes a bibliography of nearly 1,000 items in the book.

Gift of John Martin, M.D.