[Dr. Kinyoun, a pioneer of plague study in America].

Joseph James Kinyoun (1860-1919), an American bacteriologist, was the first director of NIH (National Institute of Health). His interest in bacteriology and the work of isolation of the cholera organism laid the groundwork for the present health research program of NIH. In 1900, Kinyoun identified and confirmed the diagnosis in an outbreak of plague in San Francisco. In addition, Kinyoun contributed a lot in the prevention and antisepsis of diphtheria, the spread of knowledge of bacteriology, and research of public health.