1768 WHYTT, Robert (1714 – 1766)

Observations on the dropsy in the brain.

The first account of the clinical course of tuberculous meningitis in children. This work is notable for its fullness of detail and its accuracy. Whytt divided the disease into three stages, according to the character…

GMN 4634 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/696

1805 VIEUSSEUX, Gaspard (1746 – 1814)

Mémoire sur la maladie qui a régné à Genève au printemps de 1805.

First definite description of cerebrospinal meningitis. Partial English translation in No. 2241.

GMN 4674 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/940

1810 STRONG, Nathan (1781 – 1837)

An inaugural dissertation on the disease termed petechial, or spotted fever. Submitted to the Examining Committee of the Medical Society of Connecticut, for the county of Hartford.

This graduation dissertation was the first published brochure on cerebrospinal meningitis. Digital facsimile from U.S. National Library of Medicine at this link.

GMN 4675 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/942

1811 NORTH, Elisha (1771 – 1843)

A treatise on a malignant epidemic, commonly called spotted fever.

First book on cerebrospinal meningitis; in it North recommended the use of the clinical thermometer, not in general use until the time of Wunderlich. For more information on this book, see the article by F. L. Pleadwe…

GMN 4676 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/944

1834 GERHARD, William Wood (1809 – 1872)

Cerebral affections of children.

Accurate clinical description of tuberculous meningitis.

GMN 4636 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/701

1882 KERNIG, Vladimir Mikhailovich (Woldemar) (1840 – 1917)

Ein Krankheitssymptom der acuten Meningitis.

Kernig drew attention to a flexor contracture of the leg on attempting to extend it on the thigh (“Kernig’s sign”), almost always present in cerebrospinal meningitis and an important diagnostic sign. A fuller descript…

GMN 4677 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/947

1887 WEICHSELBAUM, Anton (1845 – 1920)

Ueber die Aetiologie der akuten Meningitis cerebro-spinalis.

Weichselbaum discovered the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, causative agent of cerebrospinal meningitis.

GMN 4678 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/949

1895 VOELCKER, Arthur Francis (1861 – 1946)

First description of the Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome (Nos. 4685-86). Abstract of post mortem report, no title.

GMN 4679 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8873

1896 HEUBNER, Johann Otto Leonhard (1843 – 1926)

Beobachtungen und Versuche über den Meningokokkus intracellularis (Weichselbaum–Jaeger).

Heubner was the first to isolate meningococci from the cerebrospinal fluid of living beings.

GMN 4680 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/952

1899 SLAWYK, Coelestin Wilhelm (1866 – )

Ein Fall von Allgemeininfection mit Influenzabacillen.

First description of influenzal meningitis.

GMN 4681 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/954

1906 JOCHMANN, Georg (1874 – 1915)

Versuche zur Serodiagnostik und Serotherapie der epidemischen Genickstarre.

First attempts at the serum treatment of cerebrospinal meningitis.

GMN 4682 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/955

1907 FLEXNER, Simon (1863 – 1946)

Concerning a serum therapy for experimental infection with Diplococcus intracellularis.

Flexner prepared an antiserum for use in cerebrospinal meningitis.

GMN 4683 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/958

1908 FLEXNER, Simon (1863 – 1946); JOBLING, James Wesley (1876 – 1961)

Serum treatment of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis.

GMN 4684 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/960

1911 WATERHOUSE, Rupert (1873 – 1958)

A case of suprarenal apoplexy.

Waterhouse–Friderichsen (WFS) syndrome (see also Nos. 4679, 4686).

GMN 4685 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8875

1918 FRIDERICHSEN, Carl (1886 – 1982)

Nebennierenapoplexie bei kleinen Kindern.

See No. 4685.

GMN 4686 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/963

1924 WALLGREN, Arvid Johann (1889 – 1973)

Une nouvelle maladie infectieuse du système nerveux central?

Acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis (aseptic meningitis syndrome) first described.

GMN 4687 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8877

1934 ARMSTRONG, Charles (1886 – 1967); LILLIE, Ralph Dougall (1896 – 1979)

Experimental lymphocytic choriomeningitis of monkeys and mice produced by a virus encountered in studies of the 1933 St. Louis encephalitis epidemic.

Isolation of the virus of benign lymphocytic choriomeningits.

GMN 4688 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/966

1937 SCHWENTKER, Francis Frederic (1904 – 1954); ET AL

The treatment of meningococcic meningitis with sulfanilamide.

With S. Gelman and P. H. Long.

GMN 4689 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/968

1944 ROSENBERG, David Harry (1903 – ); ARLING, Philip Arthur (1908 – 1955)

Penicillin in the treatment of meningitis.

GMN 4689.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/970

1995 VENTER, John Craig (1946 – ); SMITH, Hamilton Othanel (1931 – ); FLEISCHMANN, Robert D.; ADAMS, Mark D.; WHITE, Owen; ET AL

Whole-genome random sequencing and assembly of Haemophilus influenzae Rd.

First sequence of the complete genome of a free-living non-viral organism—Haemophilus influenzae—the bacterium that causes lower respiratory tract infections and meningitis in infants and young children. This genome c…

GMN 11343 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13541

2013 ARTENSTEIN, Andrew W.

In the blink of an eye: The deadly story of epidemic meningitis.

GMN 8100 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10276