The Texas Meningitis Epidemic (1911-1913): Origin of the Meningococcal Vaccine

Margaret R. O'Leary, MD, is one of the first residency-trained and board-certified emergency physicians in the United States whose medical practice career spanned two decades. As the award-winning and best-selling author of more than fifteen books and many professional articles, Margaret's publishing career has spread over four decades. Today Margaret enjoys writing, big gardening, and playing her beautiful cellos.

Dennis S. O'Leary, MD, is the president emeritus of the Joint Commission, a former dean for clinical affairs and professor of internal medicine at the George Washington University, and the hospital spokesman in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on President Reagan's life in 1981. Dennis is also the grandson of Dr. Abraham Sophian, a central figure in The Texas Meningitis Epidemic (1911-1913). Today Dennis is a keen sports fan who also enjoys thriller novels and crossword puzzles.

In The Texas Meningitis Epidemic (1911-1913): Origin of the Meningococcal Vaccine, two physician authors present the dramatic medical history of a monstrous southwestern disease epidemic. They also describe the development of the intraspinal antimeningitis serum treatment for curing the disease and the meningococcal vaccine for preventing it. The authors bring the events to blazing life by skillfully drawing on original texts that evoke the grit and grace of everyday people who united to vanquish a brutal disease in early twentieth-century Texas.