Mynie Gustav Peterman

Mynie Gustav Peterman
Born	5 March 1896 Merrill, Wisconsin
Died	14 October 1971 Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison Washington University in St. Louis Washington University School of Medicine
Occupation	Pediatrician
Spouse	Mildred Mackenzie
Children	2

Mynie Gustav Peterman (5 March 1896 – 14 October 1971) was an American pediatrician known for formulating the classic ketogenic diet (CKD) to treat epilepsy in children.^[1]

Biography

Peterman was born in Merrill, Wisconsin.^[2] He was educated at Merrill Public School (1901–1909) and Merrill High School (1909–1913). He obtained his Sc.B. from University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1918, A.M. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1919 and M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine in 1920.^[2] He was Assistant in Paediatrics at Mayo Clinic (1923–1925).^[2] He was Director of Paediatrics at Marquette University and Director of the Medical Laboratories of the Children's Hospital of Milwaukee (1925–1933).^[2]

During 1924–1925, Peterman reported results from the Mayo Clinic on the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet to treat epilepsy in children.^[3] Peterman’s ketogenic diet was described as consisting of "one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight in children, 10–15 g of carbohydrate per day, and the remainder of the calories in fat". Peterman observed that excess ketosis could cause nausea and vomiting which could be relieved by his patients drinking orange juice.^[3] In 1925, Peterman reported that 95% of 37 young patients had improved seizure control on the ketogenic diet.^[4]

He was a consultant in paediatrics to the United States Public Health Service (1954–1964).^[5] Peterman was a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was a Vice-President of the American chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy.^[2][6]

Personal life

Peterman married Mildred Mackenzie on 29 September 1924, they had two children.^[2] He died on 14 October 1971 in Milwaukee.^[7][8]

Selected publications

• The Ketogenic Diet in the Treatment of Epilepsy (1924)
• The Ketogenic Diet in Epilepsy (1925)

References

1. Kidwell, R: Tobias, J. D. (2021). "Anesthetic Care of a Child Receiving a Ketogenic Diet" (PDF). Pediatric Anesthesia and Critical Care Journal. 9 (2): 85–93. doi:10.14587/paccj.2021.15.
2. Cook, Robert Cecil. (1934). Who's Who in American Education: A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Living Educators of the United States, Volumes 5–6. Who's Who in American Education. p. 579
3. Wheless, J.W. (2004). History and Origin of the Ketogenic Diet. In Stafstrom, C.E, Rho, J. M. Epilepsy and the Ketogenic Diet. Humana Press. pp. 31-50. ISBN 978-1-61737-477-7
4. Fish, David; Dodson, Edwin; Perucca, Emilio; Shorvon, Simon. (2008). The Treatment of Epilepsy. Wiley. pp. 263-264. ISBN 0-632-06046-8
5. "Mynie Gustav Peterman, MD". Wisconsin Medical Journal. 71: 45. 1972.
6. Goodkin, Howard P. (2007). "The Founding of the American Epilepsy Society: 1936–1971". Epilepsia. 48 (1): 15–22. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.00913.x. PMID 17241204. S2CID 41614723.
7. "Deaths". JAMA. 219 (8): 1084–1085. 1972. doi:10.1001/jama.1972.03190340086038.
8. "Recent Deaths". Science. 175 (4025): 975. 1972. doi:10.1126/science.175.4025.97 (inactive 1 November 2024).