FRANK

FRANK Johann Peter (Johann Peter Frank, 1745-1821), outstanding physician, teacher, and scientist. Frank worked as a practicing physician in various European cities, was professor of 'philosophy and medical police' in Göttingen, then professor of clinical medicine in Pavia, where he reorganized the entire system of teaching and medical care, in Vilnius and others; in 1805-1808 he was rector of the Military Medical-Surgical Academy and court physician in St. Petersburg. Encyclopedically educated, possessing observation skills and a sharp critical mind, excellently mastering literary technique, Frank enjoyed a reputation as a brilliant physician and teacher and left a significant literary legacy. Frank's most important works: the unfinished treatise on therapeutic medicine 'De curandis hominum morbis' (v. I-VI, Mannheim-Stuttgart-Wien, 1792-1821), especially the twice republished 'System einer vollstandigen medicinischen Polizey' (B. I-VI, ibid., 1779-1819), in which Frank brought together all contemporary knowledge on healthcare and hygiene. At the generally low level of development of hygiene as a science at that time, Frank's work emphasized rules of personal hygiene; these rules were to be implemented among the population with the help of state supervision and appropriate legislation; such a system of rules, their justification, organization of supervision and legislation, constitute the content of the masterfully written 'System of Medical Police', which is of considerable interest to the modern reader. Frank is rightly considered one of the pioneers of hygiene, the powerful development of which belongs to the second half of the 19th century (see Hygiene). Minor clinical works of Frank are collected in 2 volumes 'De medicina clinica opera omnia minora' (Königsberg, 1844-1845).