Eleven Blue Men

Eleven Blue Men (IPA: /ɪˈlɛvən bluː mɛn/) is a collection of twelve medical case histories, written by Dr. Berton Roueché, and published by Little, Brown and Company in 1953. The title refers to the first case in the book, in which eleven men turned blue from sodium nitrite poisoning.

Etymology

The term "Eleven Blue Men" is derived from the number of men affected in the first case (eleven) and their physical condition (blue) due to sodium nitrite poisoning.

Related Terms

Sodium Nitrite: A chemical compound with the formula NaNO2, which in high amounts can cause a condition known as methemoglobinemia, where the blood is unable to carry oxygen effectively, leading to a blue or purple skin color.
Methemoglobinemia: A blood disorder in which an abnormal amount of methemoglobin — a form of hemoglobin — is produced, leading to a blue or purple skin color.
Berton Roueché: An American medical writer who wrote for The New Yorker for almost fifty years. He also wrote twenty books, including "Eleven Blue Men".
Medical Case History: A detailed account of the facts affecting the development or condition of a person or group under treatment or study, especially in medicine, psychiatry, or psychology.