William Hallock Park
Encyclopedia
William Hallock Park was an American
bacteriologist and Laboratory Director, New York City
Board of Health, Division of Pathology
, Bacteriology
, and Disinfection
1893 to 1936
.
In June 1883 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from City College and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons to study medicine. He studied pathology with Dr. Theophil Mitchell Prudden
planning to become a nose and throat specialist. After Park graduated in 1893 he interned at Roosevelt Hospital and had a year of post-graduate study in Vienna, Austria. On his return in 1890 Park worked on the bacteriology of diphtheria
with Dr. Prudden.
In 1893 Dr Herman M. Biggs, Chief Inspector, New York Board of Health offered Park a position within the municipal laboratories to work to prevent diphtheria. In 1894, Dr Biggs telegraphed Park with the news of the discovery of the diphtheria antitoxin
by Roux and Behring and instructed him to begin inoculating
horses to produce antitoxin in New York City. The atypical strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, most widely used for the production of diphtheria toxin, was discovered by Anna W. Williams who worked for William H. Park.
Highlights of Park's career included the establishment of the first municipal bacteriological diagnostics laboratory in the United States, the application of toxin-antitoxin vaccine
s to prevent diphtheria, and the publication of the widely used textbook Pathogenic Bacteriology co-authored with Anna Wessels Williams
. In 1932 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal
from the National Academy of Sciences
.
Damaging to his reputation was the attenuated live polio vaccine developed by Maurice Brodie that resulted in vaccine-derived cases of polio in children inoculated with this experimental vaccine.
Dr. Park retired as Director of the Research laboratories of the Public Health Department of New York City in September 1936 and died in April 1939.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bacteriologist and Laboratory Director, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Board of Health, Division of Pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, Bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
, and Disinfection
Disinfection
Disinfectants are substances that are applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially nonresistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than sterilisation, which is an extreme physical...
1893 to 1936
Biography
Park was born on December 30, 1863 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In June 1883 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from City College and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons to study medicine. He studied pathology with Dr. Theophil Mitchell Prudden
Theophil Mitchell Prudden
Theophil Mitchell Prudden was an American pathologist, born at Middlebury, Connecticut. He graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School, Yale, in 1872 and received his M. D. from Yale School of Medicine in 1875. He became an assistant and was professor of pathology in the College of...
planning to become a nose and throat specialist. After Park graduated in 1893 he interned at Roosevelt Hospital and had a year of post-graduate study in Vienna, Austria. On his return in 1890 Park worked on the bacteriology of diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
with Dr. Prudden.
In 1893 Dr Herman M. Biggs, Chief Inspector, New York Board of Health offered Park a position within the municipal laboratories to work to prevent diphtheria. In 1894, Dr Biggs telegraphed Park with the news of the discovery of the diphtheria antitoxin
Antitoxin
An antitoxin is an antibody with the ability to neutralize a specific toxin. Antitoxins are produced by certain animals, plants, and bacteria. Although they are most effective in neutralizing toxins, they can kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Antitoxins are made within organisms, but can be...
by Roux and Behring and instructed him to begin inoculating
Inoculation
Inoculation is the placement of something that will grow or reproduce, and is most commonly used in respect of the introduction of a serum, vaccine, or antigenic substance into the body of a human or animal, especially to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease...
horses to produce antitoxin in New York City. The atypical strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, most widely used for the production of diphtheria toxin, was discovered by Anna W. Williams who worked for William H. Park.
Highlights of Park's career included the establishment of the first municipal bacteriological diagnostics laboratory in the United States, the application of toxin-antitoxin vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s to prevent diphtheria, and the publication of the widely used textbook Pathogenic Bacteriology co-authored with Anna Wessels Williams
Anna Wessels Williams
Dr. Anna Wessels Williams worked as a bacteriologist at the first municipal diagnostic laboratory in the United States, helped develop the diphtheria antitoxin and was the first woman to be elected chair of the laboratory section of the American Public Health Association.- Overview :Anna Wessels...
. In 1932 he was awarded the Public Welfare Medal
Public Welfare Medal
The Public Welfare Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of distinguished contributions in the application of science to the public welfare." It is the most prestigious honor conferred by the Academy...
from the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.
Damaging to his reputation was the attenuated live polio vaccine developed by Maurice Brodie that resulted in vaccine-derived cases of polio in children inoculated with this experimental vaccine.
Dr. Park retired as Director of the Research laboratories of the Public Health Department of New York City in September 1936 and died in April 1939.