Kanehiro Takagi

A naval doctor in the Meiji and Taisho periods. Also called "Kenkan." Born in Hyuga Province (Miyazaki Prefecture) as the son of Takagi Kanetsugu, his childhood name was Toshiro. He began studying Chinese classics under Yamanaka Kozan at the age of eight, and at age eighteen went to Kagoshima to study under the Dutch doctor Ishigami Ryosaku (1821-1875). After serving in the Boshin War, he returned to Kagoshima and enrolled in the Kaisei Medical School. His talent was recognized by the school's principal, the British doctor Willis, who encouraged him to study in England. He became a naval doctor in 1872 (Meiji 5), and in 1875 went to England to study at St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School in London, graduating with distinction in 1880. After returning to Japan, he served as director of the naval hospital and director of the Navy Ministry's Medical Bureau, and in 1885 became the Navy's Surgeon General, and in 1888 became one of Japan's first medical doctors. During this time, he founded the Seii-kai in 1881, established the Seii-kai Training Institute (the forerunner of the Jikei University School of Medicine), and also helped to establish the Dai-Nippon Shiritsu Hygienic Association in 1883.

Around 1882, the number of people suffering from beriberi in the navy reached 400 per 1,000, which became a major problem for national defense. Takagi tried to improve the diet of the navy soldiers, using rice and bread as staple foods, but increasing the amount of meat as a side dish, which succeeded in preventing beriberi.

[Toyohiko Miura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治・大正期の海軍軍医。「けんかん」ともよぶ。日向国(ひゅうがのくに)（宮崎県）に高木兼次の子として生まれる。幼名は藤四郎。8歳から山中香山に漢学を学び、18歳で鹿児島に出て、蘭医(らんい)石神良策（1821―1875）に師事した。戊辰(ぼしん)の役に従軍したのち、ふたたび鹿児島に戻って医学開成学校に入学、学校長のイギリス人医師ウィリスに才能を認められ、イギリス留学を勧められた。1872年（明治5）海軍軍医となり、1875年イギリスに留学、ロンドンのセント・トーマス病院医学校に入学し、1880年に同校を優秀な成績で卒業した。帰国後、海軍病院長、海軍省医務局長を歴任、1885年に海軍軍医総監、1888年に日本最初の医学博士の一人となった。その間、1881年に成医会を結成し、成医会講習所（東京慈恵会医科大学の前身）を創立、また1883年には大日本私立衛生会の創立にも加わった。

　1882年ころの海軍の脚気(かっけ)罹病(りびょう)者は1000人当り400人にも達し、国防上の大問題となった。高木は海軍兵食の改善を図り、主食には米飯とパンを用いたが、副食には肉を多くし、脚気を防ぐのに成功した。

［三浦豊彦］

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