David Hendricks Bergey

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David Hendricks Bergey (born December 27, 1860 in Skippack , Pennsylvania , † September 5, 1937 in Philadelphia ) was an American doctor and bacteriologist . He identified a number of bacteria and wrote the standard work "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology" for their determination and classification.

Life

David Hendricks Bergey taught for several years at schools in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania before at the University of Pennsylvania , a study of medicine began. After finishing his studies in 1884, he worked until 1893 as a practicing doctor in North Wales, Pennsylvania . He then moved to the Laboratory for Hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1903 he was appointed assistant professor and thus took over teaching duties in the field of bacteriology , from 1926 he was professor of hygiene and bacteriology and from 1929 head of the hygiene laboratory. His research activities focused on tuberculosis , preservatives for foods that phagocytosis as well as allergies . In addition to teaching and research, he was President of the Society of American Bacteriologists. After retiring from university in 1932, he served as director of biological research for the National Drug Company until his death .

Bergey's Manual

At the instigation of David Hendricks Bergey, the proceeds from the publication of his 1923 work "Manual of Determinative Bacteriology" were administered by a foundation established in 1936 under the name Bergey's Manual Trust to promote research in the field of systematic bacteriology. The work, which has been newly published several times in updated versions (1934, 1939, 1948, 1957, 1974 and 1994), is currently in its ninth edition. It is considered fundamental in establishing a system for bacteria and as a reference for their determination. Other books derived from “Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology” are the short version published in 1977 under the title “Shorter Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology” and the “Index Bergeyana” published in 1966, which was supplemented in 1981 by the volume “Supplement to Index Bergeyana”. The foundation, which is still in existence today, is based at the University of Georgia and awards the Bergey Prize ( Bergey Award ) for outstanding contributions to the taxonomy of bacteria and the Bergey Medal ( Bergey Medal ) for long-term contributions to systematic bacteriology.

Works (selection)

  • Handbook of Practical Hygiene. The Chemical Publishing Company, Eaton 1899
  • Principles of Hygiene. A practical manual for students, physicians, and health-officers. WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1901
  • Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore 1923

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Bergey, David Hendricks
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American doctor and bacteriologist
DATE OF BIRTH December 27, 1860
PLACE OF BIRTH Skippack (Pennsylvania)
DATE OF DEATH September 5, 1937
Place of death Philadelphia