William Williams Keen
Encyclopedia
William Williams Keen (January 19, 1837 – June 7, 1932) was the first brain surgeon in the United States
. He also saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt when his paralytic illness struck, and worked closely with six American presidents.
He studied at Brown University
, where he graduated in 1859. He graduated in medicine
from Jefferson Medical College in 1862. During the American Civil War
, he worked for the U.S. Army as a surgeon
. After the war, and two years of studies in Paris
and Berlin
.
He married around 1870 and had as his children: Dora Keen
, the Alpinist
.
He started lecturing surgical pathology
in Philadelphia. He was president of the Philadelphia School of Anatomy
from 1875 to 1889.
He became known in the medical community around the world for inventing several new procedures in brain surgery, including drainage
of the cerebral ventricles and removals of large brain tumor
s. Keen also performed the first successful removal of a brain tumor.
Keen also participated in a secret surgical operation to remove a cancerous jaw tumor on Grover Cleveland
in 1893.
Keen died in Philadelphia on June 7, 1932.
and Brown, Northwestern, Toronto, Edinburgh, Yale, St. Andrews, Greifswald, and Upsala universities, and served as president of the American Surgical Association
(1898), the American Medical Association
(1900), the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons (1903), and the American Philosophical Society
(after 1907). New International Encyclopedia
In 1914, at a meeting of the International Surgical Association, he was elected president for the meeting of 1917. After 1894 he was foreign corresponding member of the Société de Chirurgie de Paris, the Société Belge de Chirurgie, and the Clinical Society of London; honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie, the Palermo Surgical Society, and the Berliner Medicinische Gesellschaft, and associate fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
. New International Encyclopedia
Co-authored:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He also saw Franklin Delano Roosevelt when his paralytic illness struck, and worked closely with six American presidents.
Biography
Keen was born in Philadelphia on January 19, 1837. He attended Philadelphia Central High School.He studied at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he graduated in 1859. He graduated in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
from Jefferson Medical College in 1862. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he worked for the U.S. Army as a 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...
. After the war, and two years of studies in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
He married around 1870 and had as his children: Dora Keen
Dora Keen
Dora Keen was an American traveler and Alpinist, also a social and educational worker.-Early life:She was born in Philadelphia, a daughter of the surgeon William Williams Keen...
, the Alpinist
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
.
He started lecturing surgical pathology
Surgical pathology
Surgical pathology is the most significant and time-consuming area of practice for most anatomical pathologists. Surgical pathology involves the gross and microscopic examination of surgical specimens, as well as biopsies submitted by non-surgeons such as general internists, medical subspecialists,...
in Philadelphia. He was president of the Philadelphia School of Anatomy
Philadelphia School of Anatomy
The Philadelphia School of Anatomy was a medical college in Philadelphia that ran from 1820 to 1875. From 1868 to 1875 it was run by William Williams Keen....
from 1875 to 1889.
He became known in the medical community around the world for inventing several new procedures in brain surgery, including drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
of the cerebral ventricles and removals of large brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
s. Keen also performed the first successful removal of a brain tumor.
Keen also participated in a secret surgical operation to remove a cancerous jaw tumor on Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
in 1893.
Keen died in Philadelphia on June 7, 1932.
Honors and recognition
He received honorary degrees from Jefferson Medical CollegeThomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is a private health sciences university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The university consists of six constituent colleges and schools, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health...
and Brown, Northwestern, Toronto, Edinburgh, Yale, St. Andrews, Greifswald, and Upsala universities, and served as president of the American Surgical Association
American Surgical Association
The American Surgical Association is the nation's "oldest and most prestigious surgical organization".-History:It was founded in 1880. Their publication, Annals of Surgery, was started in 1885.- Heads :*Edward Mott Moore...
(1898), the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
(1900), the Congress of American Physicians and Surgeons (1903), and the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
(after 1907). New International Encyclopedia
New International Encyclopedia
The New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:...
In 1914, at a meeting of the International Surgical Association, he was elected president for the meeting of 1917. After 1894 he was foreign corresponding member of the Société de Chirurgie de Paris, the Société Belge de Chirurgie, and the Clinical Society of London; honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie, the Palermo Surgical Society, and the Berliner Medicinische Gesellschaft, and associate fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
. New International Encyclopedia
New International Encyclopedia
The New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:...
Procedures and signs
- Keen's operation, an omphalectomy
- Keen's sign, increased diameter of the leg at the malleoli in Pott's fracture of the fibula.
Works
He published:- Clinical Charts of the Human Body (1870)
- Early History of Practical Anatomy (1875)
- Surgical Complications and Sequels of Typhoid Fever (1898)
- Addresses and Other Papers (1905)
- Animal Experimentation and Medical Progress (1914)
- an edition of Heath's Practical Anatomy (1870)
- the New American from the Eleventh English Edition of Gray's AnatomyGray's AnatomyGray's Anatomy is an English-language human anatomy textbook originally written by Henry Gray. The book is widely regarded as an extremely influential work on the subject, and has continued to be revised and republished from its initial publication in 1858 to the present day...
(Sept 1887) - the New American from the Thirteenth English Edition of Gray's Anatomy (Sept 1893)
- the American Text-Book of Surgery (1899, 1903)
- Keen's System of Surgery (1905–13)
Co-authored:
- Gunshot Wounds, and Other Injuries of Nerves, together with Silas Weir Mitchell, George Read Morehouse (1864)
External links
- Biography and pictures
- Gray's Anatomy: The Jefferson Years Scroll down page to find reference to W.W. Keen.