Bailey Ashford
Encyclopedia
Colonel Bailey K. Ashford was born in Washington D.C. in 1873 and died in 1934. Himself a pioneering physician, Ashford grew up as one of five children in the family of a prominent physician. His general education was obtained at the public schools and at Columbian University in Washington D.C.(now George Washington University
). In 1896, he graduated from the Georgetown University
Medical School and, during this period served as resident physician in several area hospitals.
, he accompanied the military expedition to Puerto Rico
in 1898.
, he was the first to describe and successfully treat North America
n hookworm
in 1899. He was a tireless clinician and conducted an exhaustive study of the anemia
caused by hookworm infestation, which was responsible for as many as 12,000 deaths a year. From 1903–1904, he organized and conducted a parasite treatment campaign, which cured approximately 300,000 persons (one-third of the Puerto Rico population) and reduced the death rate from this anemia by 90 percent.
School of Tropical Medicine
In 1911, his proposal for an Institute of Tropical Medicine (Later renamed School of Tropical Medicine) in Puerto Rico was approved by the president of the Puerto Rican Senate, Antonio R. Barceló
who presented the necessary legislation that gave Governor Horace Towner and his cabinet, the economic resources to create the school. After serving as a commander of the Army Medical Department’s First Division during World War I
, Colonel Ashford was assigned to San Juan
and campaigned for the development of “a real school of tropical medicine in the American tropics”. The School of Tropical Medicine of Puerto Rico was formally dedicated in 1925. After a 30-year Army
career, Dr. Ashford assumed a full time faculty position at the School and continued his interest in tropical medicine. Together with doctors Isaac González Martínez
and Ramón M. Suárez Calderon
, he continued carry out his experiments in regard to anemia. The University of Puerto Rico
campus at Rio Piedras, the building of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (see drawings) in Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, is one of the few examples of the Neo-Plateresque
architectural style in the Island.
In his honor, the main avenue in the San Juan, Puerto Rico
district of "El Condado", bears his name as well as the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital, also in Condado, Puerto Rico. His home in Condado, Puerto Rico is being renovated.
After his death in 1934, his remains were interred in Puerto Rico National Cemetery
in the city of Bayamón
.
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
). In 1896, he graduated from the Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Medical School and, during this period served as resident physician in several area hospitals.
Early career
As a recently commissioned lieutenant in the United States Army Medical CorpsArmy Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
, he accompanied the military expedition to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in 1898.
Hookworm treatment
Serving as the medical officer in the general military hospital in Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, he was the first to describe and successfully treat North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n hookworm
Hookworm
The hookworm is a parasitic nematode that lives in the small intestine of its host, which may be a mammal such as a dog, cat, or human. Two species of hookworms commonly infect humans, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. A. duodenale predominates in the Middle East, North Africa, India...
in 1899. He was a tireless clinician and conducted an exhaustive study of the anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
caused by hookworm infestation, which was responsible for as many as 12,000 deaths a year. From 1903–1904, he organized and conducted a parasite treatment campaign, which cured approximately 300,000 persons (one-third of the Puerto Rico population) and reduced the death rate from this anemia by 90 percent.
Anemia treatment
Captain Ashford was a founding member of the Puerto Rico Anemia Commission and, by special authority of the Secretary of War, served on the Commission from 1904–1906.School of Tropical MedicineSchool of Tropical Medicine (Puerto Rico)The School of Tropical Medicine , was an educational institution created in 1926 by an act of the Puerto Rican Legislature, to further the research initiated by the Anemia Commissions and the Institute of Tropical Medicine on anemia and its causes...
In 1911, his proposal for an Institute of Tropical Medicine (Later renamed School of Tropical Medicine) in Puerto Rico was approved by the president of the Puerto Rican Senate, Antonio R. BarcelóAntonio R. Barceló
Antonio Rafael Barceló y Martinez was a lawyer, businessman and the patriarch of what was to become one of Puerto Rico's most prominent political families...
who presented the necessary legislation that gave Governor Horace Towner and his cabinet, the economic resources to create the school. After serving as a commander of the Army Medical Department’s First Division during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Colonel Ashford was assigned to San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and campaigned for the development of “a real school of tropical medicine in the American tropics”. The School of Tropical Medicine of Puerto Rico was formally dedicated in 1925. After a 30-year Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
career, Dr. Ashford assumed a full time faculty position at the School and continued his interest in tropical medicine. Together with doctors Isaac González Martínez
Isaac González Martínez
Dr. Isaac González Martínez was the first Puerto Rican urologist, and a pioneer in the fight against cancer throughout the island. Dr. González Martínez conducted many investigations and experiments in parasitology, bilharzia, lepra and typhoid fever. Dr. González Martínez and Dr. Bailey K...
and Ramón M. Suárez Calderon
Ramón M. Suárez Calderon
Dr. Ramón M. Suárez Calderon was a scientist, cardiologist, educator and hematologíst whose investigations led him to identify the proper and effective treatment of a specific anemia known as tropical sprue...
, he continued carry out his experiments in regard to anemia. The University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
campus at Rio Piedras, the building of the Institute of Tropical Medicine (see drawings) in Puerta de Tierra, San Juan, is one of the few examples of the Neo-Plateresque
Plateresque
Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" , was an artistic movement, especially architectural, traditionally held to be exclusive to Spain and its territories, which appeared between the late Gothic and early Renaissance in the late 15th century, and spread over the next two centuries...
architectural style in the Island.
Honors
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
district of "El Condado", bears his name as well as the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital, also in Condado, Puerto Rico. His home in Condado, Puerto Rico is being renovated.
After his death in 1934, his remains were interred in Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Bayamón, in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It encompasses of land, and as of the end of 2005, had 44,722 interments. It is the only National Cemetery in Puerto Rico, and the only one outside of the mainland...
in the city of Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
.