Laurent-Théodore Biett
Encyclopedia
Laurent-Théodore Biett was a Swiss-born dermatologist from Schams in the canton of Graubünden
. He is chiefly remembered for introducing into France an anatomical methodology of analyzing skin diseases; a system that was first developed by British dermatologist Robert Willan
(1757–1812).
In 1786 he moved with his family to Clermont-Ferrand
. He received his initial medical education at the Hotel-Dieu in Clermont-Ferrand, relocating to Paris
in 1801, where he became a favourite student of Jean-Louis Alibert
. When Alibert's work at the Hôpital Saint-Louis
was interrupted by royal obligations, Biett filled in for his teacher. From 1813 Biett was a doctor of medicine, later becoming chief medical officer at Hôpital Saint-Louis.
Biett was not known for his published works, however two of his students, Pierre Louis Alphée Cazenave
and Henri Édouard Schedel, took assiduous notes of his lectures. In 1828 Cazenave and Schedel published Abregé pratique des maladies de la peau, which was a compilation of Biett's teachings and was to became a major work in dermatology
. Cazenave is credited for coining the term "lupus erythemateaux" (lupus erythematosus
), derived from Biett's symptomatic descriptions of the disease.
Biett was a member of the Académie royale de Médecine, and in 1830 was awarded with the Légion d'honneur
.
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
. He is chiefly remembered for introducing into France an anatomical methodology of analyzing skin diseases; a system that was first developed by British dermatologist Robert Willan
Robert Willan
Robert Willan was an English physician and the founder of dermatology as a medical specialty. He received his MD at Edinburgh in 1780 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1809...
(1757–1812).
In 1786 he moved with his family to Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
. He received his initial medical education at the Hotel-Dieu in Clermont-Ferrand, relocating to 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...
in 1801, where he became a favourite student of Jean-Louis Alibert
Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert
Jean-Louis-Marc Alibert was a French dermatologist born in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron. He was a pioneer of French dermatology....
. When Alibert's work at 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:*...
was interrupted by royal obligations, Biett filled in for his teacher. From 1813 Biett was a doctor of medicine, later becoming chief medical officer at Hôpital Saint-Louis.
Biett was not known for his published works, however two of his students, Pierre Louis Alphée Cazenave
Pierre Louis Alphée Cazenave
Pierre Louis Alphée Cazenave was a French dermatologist who practiced medicine at the Hôpital Saint-Louis in Paris.In 1823 he was appointed interne to the hospitals of Paris, and in 1835 became professor agrégé to the medical faculty...
and Henri Édouard Schedel, took assiduous notes of his lectures. In 1828 Cazenave and Schedel published Abregé pratique des maladies de la peau, which was a compilation of Biett's teachings and was to became a major work in dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
. Cazenave is credited for coining the term "lupus erythemateaux" (lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is a category for a collection of diseases with similar underlying problems with immunity . Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs...
), derived from Biett's symptomatic descriptions of the disease.
Biett was a member of the Académie royale de Médecine, and in 1830 was awarded with the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.
Associated eponym
- Biett's collarette: a syphilitic symptom in which the center papulePapuleA papule is a circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid, varying in size from a pinhead to 1 cm.With regard to the quote "...varying in size from a pinhead to 1cm," depending on which text is referenced, some authors state the cutoff between a papule and a plaque as 0.5cm,...
is encircled by a ring of scales.