"An American Doctor's Odyssey: Adventures in Forty-Five Countries, by Victor George Heiser, published by ‎ W. W. Norton Company, New York, 1936, stated First Edition.

Hard boards, brown cloth with decoration on front board and dark-green box with lettering on spine; 6.1/4" x 9.3/4"; the endpapers are maps, exlibris of Mary Philbrook inside front cover [see photo]; 544 pages including Index, very good condition.

"This is a book worth reading if you are interested in the history of tropical medicine. I had never heard of Dr. Heiser but he brought sanitary conditions to the Philippines while it was an American colony. He then became the chief medical officer of the Rockefeller foundation when it was established. He traveled the world an had adventures that one would expect to find in a Dickens novel. He is one of those forgotten but important figures in the field of public health." [a private review]

The book begins with a riveting account of how Heiser survived the Johnstown Flood by nimbly balancing on the walls of his barn as it swirled in the maelstrom after seeing his entire family swept under the waters in their home. Alone in the world following this disaster, Heiser decided to study medicine, but discovered upon graduation that he much preferred to prevent disease than cure it...

Victor Heiser (1873-1972) was born Victor George Heiser in Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. He was an American physician and author, and was known as Dr. Victor Heiser. He was a survivor of the Johnstown flood of 1889. After graduating medical school Dr. Heiser, with interest in leprosy, became the Philippine director of Health. In this capacity he also ran the Culion leper Colony and traveled the world many times over. He kept journals, wrote memoirs, reports, and was the author of several books.

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) ----------- $12.50
Canada: Priority (c 2-6 weeks) -- $32.50
World: Priority (c 2-8 weeks) --- $44.50