Dr. Chevalier Jackson, Laryngologist Extraordinaire

On Jan 10, 2011, the New York Times published an article on Dr. Chevalier Jackson, a pioneer in the field of laryngology, who is perhaps best known for his extensive collection of foreign bodies he removed from patients, young and old, with little or no anesthesia. His genius is documented in a new biography called "Swallow" by Mary Cappello.

Among other achievements by Dr. Jackson was passage of the Federal Caustic Poison Act of 1927, esophageal dilatation in kids, and treatment of many poor children without pay.

Perhaps the one thing Dr. Jackson was mistaken on was the discouragement of high tracheostomies or cricothyrodotomies back in 1921.

Of note, Dr. Jackson's foreign body collection (2000+ items) is now owned by the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia... a fantastic museum I may add.

Read the NYT article here.