Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert (May 2, 1768 – November 4, 1837) was a French dermatologist born in Villefranche-de-Rouergue
, Aveyron
. He was a pioneer of French dermatology.
Originally planning to enter the priesthood, Alibert did not begin studying medicine until he was 26 years old. As a medical student in Paris
, he studied with renowned physicians that included Pierre-Joseph Desault
(1744–1795), Marie Francois Xavier Bichat
(1771–1802) and Philippe Pinel
(1745–1826). In 1801 he was appointed médecin adjoint to the Hôpital Saint-Louis
(then known as the Hospice du Nord), where he administered to patients with syphilis
, leprosy
and other skin disorders. Following the Restoration
of the French monarchy, Alibert became a personal physician to Louis XVIII. Later he was a personal physician to Charles X, and was awarded with the title of "baron
". Being that there was no chair of dermatology in Paris, Alibert was appointed professor of materia medica
and therapeutics in 1823.
Alibert believed that when diagnosing skin disorders several criteria needed to be used, and tried to introduce a classification system for diseases that was similar to the method Bernard
and Antoine Laurent de Jussieu
used in botany
. Alibert first classified dermatological disorders according to outer appearance, then he divided them into what he called families, genera and species. This system of classification was represented pictorially by Alibert as the "Tree of Dermatoses".
Alibert was a prodiguous writer, his best known work being the beautifully illustrated Descriptions des maladies de la peau. A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
, known as mycosis fungoides
was formerly known as "Alibert-Bazin syndrome", and barber's itch was once referred to as "Alibert's mentagra".
In 1806, a French physician, Jean Louis Alibert, was the first to describe a patient with mycosis fungoides
.
Villefranche-de-Rouergue
Villefranche-de-Rouergue is a commune in the Aveyron department in southern France.-History:At the end of the Albigensian Crusade from the northern "barons" against the southern Occitania on a religious pretext , the Count of Toulouse was defeated and concluded the treaty of Paris in 1229...
, Aveyron
Aveyron
Aveyron is a département in southern France named after the Aveyron River.- History :Aveyron is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790....
. He was a pioneer of French dermatology.
Originally planning to enter the priesthood, Alibert did not begin studying medicine until he was 26 years old. As a medical student 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...
, he studied with renowned physicians that included Pierre-Joseph Desault
Pierre-Joseph Desault
Pierre-Joseph Desault was a French anatomist and surgeon.He was destined for a career in the Church, but his own inclination was towards the study of medicine; after learning something from the barber-surgeon of his native village, he was settled as an apprentice in the military hospital of...
(1744–1795), Marie Francois Xavier Bichat
Marie François Xavier Bichat
Marie François Xavier Bichat , French anatomist and physiologist, was born at Thoirette .Bichat is best remembered as the father of modern histology and pathology. Despite the fact that he worked without a microscope he was able to advance greatly the understanding of the human body...
(1771–1802) and Philippe Pinel
Philippe Pinel
Philippe Pinel was a French physician who was instrumental in the development of a more humane psychological approach to the custody and care of psychiatric patients, referred to today as moral therapy...
(1745–1826). In 1801 he was appointed médecin adjoint to the Hôpital Saint-Louis
Hôpital Saint-Louis
Hôpital Saint-Louis is a hospital in Paris, France. It is part of the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris hospital system, and it is located at 1 avenue Claude-Vellefaux, in the 10th arrondissement, near the metro station: Goncourt.-External links:*...
(then known as the Hospice du Nord), where he administered to patients with syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
, leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and other skin disorders. Following the Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
of the French monarchy, Alibert became a personal physician to Louis XVIII. Later he was a personal physician to Charles X, and was awarded with the title of "baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
". Being that there was no chair of dermatology in Paris, Alibert was appointed professor of materia medica
Materia medica
Materia medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing . The term 'materia medica' derived from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica libre...
and therapeutics in 1823.
Alibert believed that when diagnosing skin disorders several criteria needed to be used, and tried to introduce a classification system for diseases that was similar to the method Bernard
Bernard de Jussieu
Bernard de Jussieu was a French naturalist, younger brother of Antoine de Jussieu.Bernard de Jussieu was born in Lyon...
and Antoine Laurent de Jussieu
Antoine Laurent de Jussieu
Antoine Laurent de Jussieu was a French botanist, notable as the first to propose a natural classification of flowering plants; much of his system remains in use today.-Life:...
used in botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. Alibert first classified dermatological disorders according to outer appearance, then he divided them into what he called families, genera and species. This system of classification was represented pictorially by Alibert as the "Tree of Dermatoses".
Alibert was a prodiguous writer, his best known work being the beautifully illustrated Descriptions des maladies de la peau. A type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
, known as mycosis fungoides
Mycosis fungoides
-External links:* * *...
was formerly known as "Alibert-Bazin syndrome", and barber's itch was once referred to as "Alibert's mentagra".
In 1806, a French physician, Jean Louis Alibert, was the first to describe a patient with mycosis fungoides
Mycosis fungoides
-External links:* * *...
.
Notable publications
- Dissertation sur les fièvres pernicieuses ou ataxiques intermittentes, Doctoral thesis (1799)
External links
- Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...
, including bibliography of written works. - French Society for the History of Dermatology "Paris choosing a dermatological hero for the millennium" by Daniel Wallach
- "Baron Jean-Louis ALIBERT 1768 - 1837 Médecin, dermatologue français" Portraites de Medecins