Patrick Manson, Scottish Parasitologist

Patrick Manson (1844-1922) was a Scottish physician, parasitology and founder of the tropical medicine field (deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions). He spent his early years researching Filaria (worm that causes elephantiasis) from blood taken from patients. He plotted the life cycle of Filaria and through observation discovered that the worms were only present in the blood during the night and were absent during the day. Manson observed that the Filaria only developed as far as an embryo within the human blood and that the mosquito must have a role in the life cycle of the Filaria. He hypothesized about the role of mosquitoes and the spread of disease. This discovery was one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the time. Manson also demonstrated a new species of Schistosoma (Bilharzia) known as Schistosoma mansoni. He was knighted KCMG in 1903 and GCMG in 1912. He died in 1922 at the age of 77

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1844 Breakthrough Knighted Malaria Manson Milestone Mosquito Mosquitoes Spread Theory Worm

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