1745-1821

German physician who is regarded as a pioneer in public hygiene. His classic treatise A System of a Complete Medical Policy (9 volumes, 1779-1827) is considered the first systematic treatise on public health and hygiene. Frank advocated strict and rigorous laws and "medical police" to protect the health of the people. His writings summarized all that was known about public health at the time and provided detailed models for hygienic laws. Frank believed that international codes of law were needed to control threats to public health.