Rats, Lice and History, a 1935 chronicle describing the life cycle of typhus fever, established Hans Zinsser as a prominent voice in medical literature. Throughout his career, he balanced rigorous laboratory research with an expansive interest in history and poetry, eventually producing over 200 medical articles and books while serving as a professor at Harvard University.
Academic and Professional Training
Born in New York City in 1878, Zinsser attended the Timothy Dwight School before matriculating at Columbia University. He earned his A.B. in 1899, followed by M.A. and M.D. degrees in 1903. Following an internship at Roosevelt Hospital, he transitioned from clinical practice toward research and teaching.
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During World War I, Zinsser served with the American Red Cross Sanitary Commission in Serbia and later held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the US Army Medical Corps. His work in France earned him the Distinguished Service Medal for his organization of military sanitation and disease control protocols. Beyond his administrative duties, he was recognized for providing medical care to wounded soldiers under active fire, earning the Order of St. Sava of Serbia.
Research into Typhus
In 1923, Zinsser joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School, a position he held for the remainder of his life. His primary research focus was the study of typhus. His investigations led to the isolation of the typhus bacterium and the development of vaccines for various strains of the disease. His contributions were significant enough that a condition now termed Brill–Zinsser disease bears his name as a recognition of his diagnostic insights.
Literary Contributions and Legacy
Zinsser authored several texts on bacteriology, including Infection and Resistance and his collaborative A Text-book of Bacteriology. His final work, As I Remember Him: The Biography of R.S., was written while he suffered from lymphatic leukemia. Published in 1940, the memoir secured a National Book Award. Following his death in New York City on September 4, 1940, he was interred at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1878, New York City
- Died: 1940, New York City
- Education: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Employers: Harvard University, Stanford University
- Key Publication: Rats, Lice and History (1935)
- Award: National Book Award (1940)
- Burial: Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
- Field of Study: Epidemiology
Questions readers ask
What was the medical significance of Brill–Zinsser disease?
The condition was named after his research into the recurrence of typhus infections.
What was the focus of his 1940 memoir?
It was written in the form of a biography regarding a third party, identified as the Romantic Self.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Held posts at Harvard University and Stanford University
- Fields: typhus, bacteriology and epidemiology
