Name Samuel Dixon | ||
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Died February 26, 1918, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Education University of Pennsylvania | ||
Dr. Samuel Gibson Dixon (March 28, 1851 - February 26, 1918) was a bacteriologist who made important contributions to the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He was the Commissioner of the State Department of Health in Pennsylvania from 1905 until his death., during which time he introduced sanitary and hygienic reforms that set new standards for government public health programs and saved thousands of lives.
Dr. Dixon was born in Philadelphia, attended private schooling, and went on to graduate with honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1866. He attended medical school at both King's College London and Pettenkofer's Laboratory of Hygiene in Munich.
His work in tuberculosis prevention is what brought him the most recognition. He is now regarded as the first researcher to induce immune response to tuberculosis in guinea pigs—a precursor to the development of an effective treatment for the infection in humans. A tuberculosis facility in Mont Alto, Pennsylvania being named after him.