February 2018
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Ever Upward: February 2018 Aerospace Medicine at 100 Years! Bert compiled all of his research into a simple book titled “La Pression Barometrique” (“Barometric Pressure”), which was • 1917: U.S. Army Lt. Col. Theodore C. Lyster (1875–1933) published in 1878. is book would form much of the early serves as first Chief Surgeon of the Army Signal Corps as foundation for the new discipline of Aviation Medicine, re - America enters World War I. That December he observed sulting in his designation as the “Father of Aviation medical support of aviation units at the front lines. Medicine.” • 19 Jan. 1918: The U.S. Army Air Service establishes its “Medical Research Laboratory and School for Flight Pilots & Fitness to Fly Surgeons” at Hazelhurst Field, Long Island, NY. It wasn’t long aer the first manned powered airplane flight • 11 Mar. 1918: The term “flight surgeon” is officially adopted at Kitty Hawk in December 1903 that the U.S. War by the U.S. Army Air Service Medical Research Laboratory. Department (predecessor to the • 8 May 1918: Capt. Robert J. Hunter, M.D., and three other U.S. Department of Defense) be - physicians are ordered to report to an aviation school. came interested in aviation for pur - Capt. Hunter reported to duty on 13 May 1918, 2 days be - poses of national security and mili - fore his colleagues. He was the first American flight sur - tary operations. As infantry soldiers geon. and sailors transformed them - selves into pilots of flying ma - e history of Aerospace Medicine closely follows the devel - chines, European militaries led the opment of aviation and space operations. From the begin - way in setting medical standards nings of aviation via balloons to aviation experimenters for aircrew. e Germans were the Hiram Maxim, Clément Ader, Karl Jatho, Augustus Moore first to develop a minimal set Herring, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Gustave Whitehead, and, of aeromedical standards in 1910, of course, the Wright Brothers, to modern aviation and even - Theodore Lyster (1875–1933) which were soon imitated by the tually to space, human physiology has presented significant Italians, the British, and the French. limitations. Aviation and space operations expose human be - e United States followed this trend, publishing instructions ings to a variety of environmental situations that the human for aviation physical examinations in 1912 and then body has little to no natural ability to counter. In this way, as actual aeromedical standards in 1916. Much of the medical aeronautical science and engineering slowly evolved, an un - operations in early military aviation was guided by then Lt. derstanding of human physiological response and the devel - Col. (later ret. Brig. Gen.) eodore Lyster. e book “Air opment of life support equipment to counter human physiol - Service Medical” published by the War Department in 1919 ogy limitations remained one small step behind. e specialty was likely written by Dr. Lyster and his colleagues Dr. Isaac of Aerospace Medicine developed a few years following the H. Jones and Dr. Eugene R. Lewis. is book served as the Wright Brothers’ success in North Carolina and has devel - earliest military aviation medicine textbook. oped into a highly specialized and fascinating medical disci - In addition to his efforts behind “Air Service Medical,” Dr. pline that ensures the health, safety, and performance of Lyster served as Chief Surgeon of the Army’s Aviation those engaged in aviation and space operations. Section during World War I, emphasized the importance of The Father of Aviation Medicine medical standards for pilots as a significant factor affecting Paul Bert was a French physiologist with doctorates in flight safety, and created the role of flight surgeon in military medicine and science, acquired in the 1860s. Dr. Bert was flying units. Although he may not have been the first to coin very interested in the effects of alti - the term “flight surgeon,” it was Lyster who really developed tude on human physiology and the concept. He assigned these military physicians to individ - conducted hundreds of experi - ual flying units and deployed them with their units rather ments to research his hypotheses. than the larger medical teams. Brig. Gen. Lyster also estab - Not content with experimenting lished the Air Service Medical Research Laboratory on Long solely with balloonists, he devel - Island, NY. is facility allowed the military to considerably oped the first hypobaric chamber, increase medical research studies in pilots, which were later which was able to simulate altitudes catalogued in “Air Service Medical.” Later, aer retiring to up to 36,000 . He experimented civilian life, Dr. Lyster would serve as the medical examiner with animals to determine the min - for the Federal Aviation Administration’s predecessor, the imum required partial pressure of U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role, he also orga - oxygen in circulating blood. Using nized the first issuing of licenses to civilian commercial avia - Paul Bert (1833 1886) – the results from these experiments, tors. he came to the conclusion that the use of supplemental oxy - Dr. Lyster chose otologists Isaac H. Jones and Eugene R. gen in high altitude balloon travel was necessary, and fer - Lewis to assist in the expansion of aviation medicine and the vently urged operators to do so. He also discovered oxygen opening of medical examination centers for pilots. Both doc - toxicity. His research entered vast amounts of scientific infor - tors were adamant that these new aviation medical specialists mation into the new field of flight physiology. Ultimately, Dr. See ‘Celebrating 100 Years’, p. N6 Send information for publication in this newsletter to: Journal Department, AsMA; [email protected] AsMA Newsletter • February 2018 N5 From ‘Celebrating 100 Years’, p. N5 Annual Scientific Meeting to consider spending Tuesday fly regularly to better understand the physiological conse - evening with us to celebrate Aerospace Medicine at 100 quences of flight. Jones was an especially strong advocate of Years. the mission of the flight surgeon in keeping pilots fit to con - Jeffrey C. Sventek, M.S., CAsP, FAsMA, FRAeS tinue flying duties. He constantly campaigned against the Executive Director, Aerospace Medical Association commonly held belief among pilots at that time that flight surgeons only wished to take their wings. New Members The First Flight Surgeon It is uncertain who first created the term “flight surgeon.” AsMA welcomes 28 new members in February. Less contentious among military historians is who was the first flight surgeon. Capt. Robert J. Hunter, M.D., was or - • Abdul, Eric; Enterprise, AL, United States dered, along with three other physicians, to report to an avia - • Aebi, Mathias; Zurich, Switzerland tion school on 8 May 1918. eir orders did not originally • Aughenbaugh, Kelli; De Smet, SD, United States contain the words “flight surgeon,” but were later revised to • Barnes, Matthew; London, OH, United States include verbiage stating “amended so as to have the officers • Bell, Maria; Sioux Falls, SD, United States report in person to the Commanding Officers at the places • Bohn, Bradley; Owatonna, MN, United States specified for duties as Flight Surgeons.” In this role, these four • Clements, Paul; Kerikeri, New Zealand physicians were tasked to ensure that military personnel se - • Everett, Kimberly; Pensacola, FL, United States lected as aircrew maintained fitness to fly. As they developed • Gilje, Geir; Sandnes, Norway the roles and responsibilities of the flight surgeon, they also • Jeffery, Nick; Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom provided early insights into accident prevention, safety im - • Kantirat, Taweesak; Laksi, ailand provements, and investigated aircra crashes. Capt. Hunter • Kotran, Samuel; Bradenton, FL, United States reported to duty on 13 May 1918, 2 days before his col - • Kuwada, Naruo; Fuchu-Shi, Japan leagues. He was the first American flight surgeon. • Lacy, Aaron; Iowa City, IA, United States • Lefrancois, Valentin; Cambes-En-Plaine, France Celebrating 100 Years of Aerospace Medicine • McNamara, Maureen; Denver, CO, United States e Aerospace Medical Association has a unique opportunity • Mejia Delgado, Alexandra; Prattville, AL, United States th during our upcoming 89 Annual Scientific Meeting in • Mormann, Benjamin; Boston, MA, United States Dallas, TX, to celebrate the first 100 years of Aerospace • Nowak, Elizabeth; Lakewood, OH, United States Medicine as a medical discipline. We are planning an evening • Palmer, Lisa; Bolling AFB, Washington, DC, United States reception to celebrate 100 years of Aerospace Medicine that • Reynolds, Robert; Vancouver, WA, United States will include entertainment, food, and fun. e “Reception to • Roy, Steven; under Bay, Ontario, Canada Celebrate 100 Years of Aerospace Medicine” is scheduled for • Schmidt, Michael; Boulder, CO, United States 8 May 2018 … 100 years to the day that the U.S. Army or - • Street, Patrick; Miami, FL, United States dered the first four physicians to an aviation school to be - • Tan, Hui; Wembley, Western Australia, Australia come the first U.S. flight surgeons! • Taylor, Amanda; Oklahoma City, OK, United States Tickets for this reception event can be purchased during • orgrimson, Joelle; Kenora, Ontario, Canada your meeting registration. Tickets for the reception are priced • Tulloch, James; Colorado Springs, CO, United States at $10 per person and will help defray some of the costs for th the reception. I encourage all planning to attend the 89 Please contact