Pettenkofer, Max von

Pettenkofer, Max von (mäks fun pet'unkō"fur) [key], 1818–1901, German chemist and hygienist. He studied medicine at Munich. Pettenkofer is considered a founder of epidemiology and is known for his researches in the ventilation of dwellings, sewage disposal, and the spread of cholera. He developed a reaction for the detection of bile acids and a method for the quantitative determination of carbon dioxide.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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