Canyon Creek Schoolhouse Laboratory 100^th Anniversary

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Download the PDF: USPHS_RMSF_timeline (2.25 MB) 

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The town of Canyon Creek opened its schoolhouse to students.

1899

1899      Dr. Edward E. Maxey of Boise, Idaho, published the first clinical description of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and attributed the disease to melted snow water.
Maxey, E. "Some observations on the so-called spotted fever of Idaho." Medical Sentinel, 7(1), 1899, 733-438.

1901

1901      The Montana State Board of Health was created.

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Spring 1902        Dr Albert F. Longeway, Secretary of the Montana State Board of Health, arranged for Drs. Louis A. Wilson and William M. Chowning of the University of Minnesota to study RMSF in the Bitterrroot Valley area. They noted that the disease was limited to the west side of the river, identified the wood tick as the probable vector, and the Columbian ground squirrel as the infected animal host for the ticks. Then tentatively identified a protozoa as the infectious agent. They also reported the clinical and pathological syndromes.
Wilson, L.B.; Chowning, W.M., "Studies in Pyroplamosis hominis. ( Spotted fever or tick fever of the Rocky mountains.)." Infectious Diseases, 1, 1904, 31-57.

June 1902           U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Surgeon General Walter Wyman sent Dr. Julius O. Cobb to Missoula, Montana, to investigate RMSF. He joined the work of Wilson and Chowning.
J. O. Cobb. "The so-called "spotted fever" of the Rocky Mountains—A new disease in Bitter Root Valley." Public Health Reports (1896-1970), Vol. 17, No. 33 (August 15, 1902), pp. 1868-1870. Download PDF (497 kB) 

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