Chevalier Jackson

Chevalier Quixote Jackson (November 4, 1865 – August 16, 1958) was an American physician and pioneer in laryngology. He developed an esophagoscope in 1890 and a bronchoscope in 1899 that were major advances in the technology. He removed over 2,300 inhaled or swallowed items non-surgically from patients. His work in endoscopy and bronchoscopy resulted in improvements in the outcome for foreign body aspiration from a 98% mortality rate to a 98% survival rate.

He used his esophagoscope for the dilation of esophageal strictures which occurred in children who accidentally ingested lye. He campaigned to have lye bottles listed as a poison which resulted in passage of the Federal Caustic Labeling Act of 1929. He was the first to identify erosive esophagitis in 1929 and he developed a standardized technique for tracheotomy that is still used today.

He was chair of laryngology at Western Pennsylvania University (now the University of Pittsburgh), professor of laryngology at Jefferson Medical College, and Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. He held collegiate chairs at multiple medical colleges in Philadelphia including Jefferson Medical College, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, and Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. He was awarded the Elliot Cresson Medal in 1929. He served as president of Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania from 1935 to 1941.

Early life and education Jackson was born November 4, 1865, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the second of William Stanford Jackson and Katherine Ann Morage's three sons. Due to financial difficulties, the family moved to Crafton, Pennsylvania. He began woodworking at the age of 4. When he was older, he became adept at creating skates, sleds, canoes, and furniture. He travelled to Europe and visited clinics in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna. He studied under Morrell Mackenzie in London which inspired him to develop a tool to examine the esophagus.

Career In 1900,

He was the first to identify erosive esophagitis in 1929 and he developed a standardized technique for tracheotomy that is still used today. He held collegiate chairs at multiple medical colleges in Philadelphia including Jefferson Medical College, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, and Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. and was awarded the Franklin Institute's Elliott Cresson Medal in 1929.

Personal life He married Alice Bennett White in 1899 and together they had a son, Chevalier Lawrence Jackson, who became a surgeon. His son succeeded him as chair at Temple University in 1938.

His collection of over 2,300 objects that were inhaled or swallowed by patients and removed non-surgically by Jackson are on permanent display at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia. His home, Sunrise Mill, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.