Gustavus M. Blech
Encyclopedia
Dr. Gustavus M. Blech, November 28, 1870, in Riga
(then Russia
, now Latvia
) to August 9, 1949, in Chicago, IL, was a Chicago, Illinois
, physician
, surgeon
, and medical educator. He was the son of Johann (Jwe, Israel) and Johanna (Haya-Sara Wulffahrt) Blech (Bljach).
After immigrating to the United States in 1890, he earned his MD degree from Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri
, in 1894.
He served as surgeon-in-chief, Lincoln Hospital, Chicago; professor of clinical surgery, Illinois Medical College, 1907-1912, and medical department, Loyola University Chicago
, 1912-1914; consulting surgeon at Cook County Hospital and Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago; director-in-chief of the Illinois Legion, American Red Cross
; and major, Illinois Infantry Medical Corps.
Dr. Blech was a veteran of the United States Army
, achieving the rank of colonel, and the Illinois National Guard, achieving the rank of brigadier general, and served in the Spanish-American War
, the Mexican border skirmishes, and World War I; in that latter war, he served as a colonel, Medical Reserve Corps, United States Army, and as an officier de l'instruction publique for France. He was assistant division surgeion of the 33rd Division and commanded Camp Hospital #47 at Autun
, France, which was later designated as Base Hospital #208 and moved to Bordeaux
. For his service in World War I, he was decorated by the governments of Imperial Russia
, Belgium
, and France.
Elsevier
, a leading medical publisher, called him a “pioneer in the use of physical methods in surgery.” He won the Gold Key Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1933, and was awarded the Order of St. George
, Knight Grand Cross with Great Star and Grand Cordon, by the British government, 1937.
Dr. Blech was frequently published. He was editor of the Journal of Physical Therapy. He had research
articles published in medical journals, including the American Journal of the Medical Sciences and Military Surgeon, where he wrote monthly medical book reviews from 1942 to 1949.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(then Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, now Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) to August 9, 1949, in Chicago, IL, was a Chicago, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, and medical educator. He was the son of Johann (Jwe, Israel) and Johanna (Haya-Sara Wulffahrt) Blech (Bljach).
After immigrating to the United States in 1890, he earned his MD degree from Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, in 1894.
He served as surgeon-in-chief, Lincoln Hospital, Chicago; professor of clinical surgery, Illinois Medical College, 1907-1912, and medical department, Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, 1912-1914; consulting surgeon at Cook County Hospital and Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago; director-in-chief of the Illinois Legion, American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
; and major, Illinois Infantry Medical Corps.
Dr. Blech was a veteran of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, achieving the rank of colonel, and the Illinois National Guard, achieving the rank of brigadier general, and served in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, the Mexican border skirmishes, and World War I; in that latter war, he served as a colonel, Medical Reserve Corps, United States Army, and as an officier de l'instruction publique for France. He was assistant division surgeion of the 33rd Division and commanded Camp Hospital #47 at Autun
Autun
Autun is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy in eastern France. It was founded during the early Roman Empire as Augustodunum. Autun marks the easternmost extent of the Umayyad campaign in Europe.-Early history:...
, France, which was later designated as Base Hospital #208 and moved to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. For his service in World War I, he was decorated by the governments of Imperial Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and France.
Elsevier
Elsevier
Elsevier is a publishing company which publishes medical and scientific literature. It is a part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere....
, a leading medical publisher, called him a “pioneer in the use of physical methods in surgery.” He won the Gold Key Award from the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1933, and was awarded the Order of St. George
Order of St. George
The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George The Military Order of the Holy Great-Martyr and the Triumphant George (also known as Order of St. George the Triumphant, Russian: Военный орден Св...
, Knight Grand Cross with Great Star and Grand Cordon, by the British government, 1937.
Dr. Blech was frequently published. He was editor of the Journal of Physical Therapy. He had research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
articles published in medical journals, including the American Journal of the Medical Sciences and Military Surgeon, where he wrote monthly medical book reviews from 1942 to 1949.