P. A. Schleisner: A pioneer in epidemiology

In 1847 Schleisner (b. 1818) was sent from Copenhagen to the Vestmanna Isla nds in Iceland to study the epidemic of tetanus neonatorum. The neonatal mo rtality in those islands at that time was 600-740 per 1000 children. He bui lt a small hospital and introduced treatment with Peru balsam of the umbili cus. Schleisner probably assumed that the infection was caused by airborne infection, contact infection or poor hygiene. The neonatal mortality fell t o about 50 per 1000. Schleisner published his results in 1849. Semmelweiss published his observations in 1850 and Snow successfully fought the cholera epidemic in London in 1854. Schleisner deserves recognition as a pioneer i n the field of epidemiology. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.