Francis M. Pottenger Sr.
American physician and tuberculosis researcher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francis Marion Pottenger (27 September 1869 – 10 June 1961) was an American physician and tuberculosis researcher.
Francis M. Pottenger Sr. | |
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| Born | 27 September 1869 |
| Died | 10 June 1961 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Physician |
Biography
Pottenger obtained his MD from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in 1894.[1] He qualified A.M. from Otterbein University in 1907 and L.L.D. in 1909.[2] His wife Carrie Burtner died from tuberculosis in 1898 which prompted him to establish the Pottenger Sanitorium in Monrovia, California in 1903.[1][2] It became the most successful sanitorium in Southern California due to its high recovery rates.[3] Pottenger advocated the use of tuberculin which he believed would create a hostile environment for tuberculosis.[4]
Pottenger founded the Southern California Anti-Tuberculosis League in 1903 for which he was President 1903–1906 and 1939–1941.[1] He was President of the Endocrine Society 1935–1937.[5] In the 1940s, Pottenger was chairman of the Smog Committee of the Los Angeles County Medical Association.[3]
He died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, aged 91.[6]
Family
Pottenger married several times. He married his first wife Carrie Burtner in 1894.[2] He had several children with his second wife Adelaide Gertrude. His son Francis M. Pottenger Jr. was also a physician.
His sister Nellie Maude Pottenger was married to Finis E. Fouts, a soybean pioneer.[7]
Selected publications
- Culture Products in the Treatment of Tuberculosis (1902)
- The Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (1908)[8]
- Tuberculin in Diagnosis and Treatment (1913)
- Symptoms of Visceral Disease (1919)
- Clinical Tuberculosis (1922)
- Tuberculosis and How to Combat It: A Book for the Patient (1929)[9]
- The Fight Against Tuberculosis: An Autobiography (1952)[10]