Georges-Fernand Widal
Encyclopedia
Georges-Fernand-Isidor Widal; (born on March 9, 1862 in Dellys
, Algeria
and died in Paris
on January 14, 1929) was a French
physician
.
From 1886 to 1888 he devoted himself to public demonstrations of the researches of the faculty of pathological anatomy, and during the 2 years following was in charge of a course in bacteriology
in the laboratory of Professor Victor André Cornil
. In 1895 he was appointed visiting physician to the hospital
s of Paris, and in 1904 became an instructor
in the faculty of medicine. In 1905 he became a physician to the Hôpital Cochin
, and was in charge of the medical clinics at the same institution.
Widal was the author of a remarkable series of essays on infectious disease
s, erysipelas
, diseases of the heart, liver
, nervous system
, etc., besides being a prolific contributor to various medical journal
s and encyclopedia
s. His name is associated with the Widal test
, which is a diagnostic test for typhoid fever
, and with hematologist Georges Hayem
he described acquired haemolytic anaemia, which was historically referred to as the "Hayem-Widal syndrome".
Dellys
Dellys is a small coastal town in northern Algeria, almost due north of Tizi-Ouzou and just east of the river Sebaou. It is notable for an Ottoman-era casbah, two colonial-era lighthouses , and some beaches; the principal activities of the area are fishing and farming. In Roman times, it was...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on January 14, 1929) was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
From 1886 to 1888 he devoted himself to public demonstrations of the researches of the faculty of pathological anatomy, and during the 2 years following was in charge of a course in bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
in the laboratory of Professor Victor André Cornil
Victor André Cornil
Victor André Cornil, also André-Victor Cornil was a French pathologist and histologist born in Cusset, Allier.He studied medicine in Paris, earning his doctorate in 1864...
. In 1895 he was appointed visiting physician to the hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s of Paris, and in 1904 became an instructor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in the faculty of medicine. In 1905 he became a physician to the Hôpital Cochin
Hôpital Cochin
The Hôpital Cochin is a famous hospital of public assistance in the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques Paris 14e. It houses the central burn treatment center of the city. The Hôpital Cochin is a section of the Faculté de Médecine Paris-Descartes...
, and was in charge of the medical clinics at the same institution.
Widal was the author of a remarkable series of essays on infectious disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
s, erysipelas
Erysipelas
Erysipelas is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread.-Risk factors:...
, diseases of the heart, liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
, nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
, etc., besides being a prolific contributor to various medical journal
Medical journal
A public health journal is a scientific journal devoted to the field of public health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, and health care . Public health journals, like most scientific journals, are peer-reviewed...
s and encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
s. His name is associated with the Widal test
Widal test
Test whereby bacteria causing typhoid fever are mixed with serum containing specific antibodies obtained from an infected individual. It is a presumptive serological test for enteric fever or undulant fever. In case of Salmonella infections, it is a demonstration of the presence of O-soma...
, which is a diagnostic test for typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
, and with hematologist Georges Hayem
Georges Hayem
Georges Hayem was a physician and hematologist who was a native of Paris. He studied medicine in Paris, and later became a professor of therapy and materia medica. From 1878 until 1911 he practiced medicine at the Hôpital Tenon, and afterwards was associated with the Hôpital St...
he described acquired haemolytic anaemia, which was historically referred to as the "Hayem-Widal syndrome".
Literary works
- Etude sur l'infection puerpérale, 1889
- La cure de déchloruration dans le mal de Bright, 1906
- Maladies des veines et des lymphatiques, 1911
- Nouveau traité de médicine, 22 Vols., 1923 (with Georges Henri RogerGeorges Henri RogerGeorges Henri Roger was a French physiologist born in Paris. He studied medicine in Paris, where he later became a professor of experimental pathology and physiology. In 1930 he was appointed dean of the medical faculty....
, P. J. Teissier)