EPONYMS IN DERMATOLOGY LITERATURE LINKED TO SWITZERLAND

There are many diseases in medicine which are named after scientists. These so-called „eponyms” have become quite commonplace in medical literature and offer important historical insight. These eponyms originated from different countries around the world. In Table I [1-18]. I listed selected eponyms in dermatology literature linked to Switzerland. Switzerland is situated in western Europe. Its current population is estimated to be 8 million people. It is known for many people around the world by its productions of many good and beautiful things. For examples, high quality hand watches. Many scientific contributions in medicine came also from Switzerland. The well-known whonamedit website, (www.whonamedit. com), listed till now more than 100 scientists from Switzerland for whom many medical conditions were named. In addition, many scientists from Switzerland win Nobel Prize in its different branches. As a matter of fact, when it comes to Nobel Prize winners per capita, Switzerland is head and shoulders above the competition. The first winner from Switzerland in Physiology or Medicine is Emil Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), (Fig. 12), for his work in the physiology, pathology and surgery of the thyroid. He was awarded in 1909. Many scientists from Europe were also teaching medicine in Switzerland. For example Jacob Henle (1809-1885), a German scientist for whom, Henle’s Layer of the Internal Root Sheath, was named. Also, Johann Lukas Schönlein (1793-1864) a German scientist, who made important medical discoveries. All were made during his years in Zurich, the socalled typhoid crystals in patients’ stools (1836), „peliosis rheumatica” (1837), and-most important-the causative agent of favus (1839), a fungus later named Achorion schoenleinii [19]. Henoch-Schönlein purpura is named for him and for his former student from Germany Eduard Heinrich Henoch (1820-1910). Trichophyton schönleinii is still acceptable term, named for him. Also, there are scientists from outside Switzerland who had medical training in Switzerland like the famous American dermatologist, Marion Baldur Sulzberger (1895-1983). On the other hand there are scientists from Switzerland who continued their researches and career outside Switzerland. Willy Burgdorfer is an example. Burgdorfer, (Fig. 13), is an American scientist born and educated in Basel, Switzerland. He is an international leader in the field of medical entomology. He is famous for his discovery of the bacterial pathogen that causes Lyme disease, a spirochete named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor. He isolated the bacterium in 1982 [20]. It is to be mentioned that some of the eponyms linked to Switzerland are no longer in common use in medicine. For example, Rickettsia mooseri is an old name for Rickettsia typhi, the causative agent of murine typhus. It is named for Hans Mooser, a Professor of bacteriology in Zurich. It is, also, a well-known and not uncommon phenomenon, that eponyms often become associated with names of people who are not, in fact, identical with the person who first described or discovered a given state or circumstance. This applies to eponyms linked to Switzerland. The du Bois sign is an example. Neither was Charles du Bois the first person to describe the shortened fifth finger in cases of congenital syphilis, nor did he devise the sign’s currently accepted description (Tabl. I). Lastly, it is needless to say that eponyms originated from a given country provide just an inclusive and not a conclusive idea about its overall scientific contributions. EPONYMS IN DERMATOLOGY LITERATURE LINKED TO SWITZERLAND

There are many diseases in medicine which are named after scientists.These so-called "eponyms" have become quite commonplace in medical literature and offer important historical insight.These eponyms originated from different countries around the world.In Table I [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].I listed selected eponyms in dermatology literature linked to Switzerland.Switzerland is situated in western Europe.Its current population is estimated to be 8 million people.It is known for many people around the world by its productions of many good and beautiful things.For examples, high quality hand watches.Many scientific contributions in medicine came also from Switzerland.The well-known whonamedit website, (www.whonamedit.com), listed till now more than 100 scientists from Switzerland for whom many medical conditions were named.In addition, many scientists from Switzerland win Nobel Prize in its different branches.As a matter of fact, when it comes to Nobel Prize winners per capita, Switzerland is head and shoulders above the competition.The first winner from Switzerland in Physiology or Medicine is Emil Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), (Fig. 12), for his work in the physiology, pathology and surgery of the thyroid.He was awarded in 1909.Many scientists from Europe were also teaching medicine in Switzerland.For example Jacob Henle (1809-1885), a German scientist for whom, Henle's Layer of the Internal Root Sheath, was named.Also, Johann Lukas Schönlein (1793-1864) a German scientist, who made important medical discoveries.All were made during his years in Zurich, the socalled typhoid crystals in patients' stools (1836), "peliosis rheumatica" (1837), and-most important-the causative agent of favus (1839), a fungus later named Achorion schoenleinii [19].Henoch-Schönlein purpura is named for him and for his former student from Germany Eduard Heinrich Henoch (1820-1910).Trichophyton schönleinii is still acceptable term, named for him.Also, there are scientists from outside Switzerland who had medical training in Switzerland like the famous American dermatologist, Marion Baldur Sulzberger (1895-1983).On the other hand there are scientists from Switzerland who continued their researches and career outside Switzerland.Willy Burgdorfer is an example.Burgdorfer, (Fig. 13), is an American scientist born and educated in Basel, Switzerland.He is an international leader in the field of medical entomology.He is famous for his discovery of the bacterial pathogen that causes Lyme disease, a spirochete named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor.He isolated the bacterium in 1982 [20].It is to be mentioned that some of the eponyms linked to Switzerland are no longer in common use in medicine.For example, Rickettsia mooseri is an old name for Rickettsia typhi, the causative agent of murine typhus.It is named for Hans Mooser, a Professor of bacteriology in Zurich.It is, also, a well-known and not uncommon phenomenon, that eponyms often become associated with names of people who are not, in fact, identical with the person who first described or discovered a given state or circumstance.This applies to eponyms linked to Switzerland.The du Bois sign is an example.Neither was Charles du Bois the first person to describe the shortened fifth finger in cases of congenital syphilis, nor did he devise the sign's currently accepted description (Tabl.I).Lastly, it is needless to say that eponyms originated from a given country provide just an inclusive and not a conclusive idea about its overall scientific contributions.

Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome (BSS) [1-3]
BSS is another name for Incontinentia pigmenti (IP).IP is an x-linked dominant condition that affects skin, teeth, eyes and may also have neurological problems.
IP is more commonly used term than BBS.
Garrod reported the first probable case of incontinentia pigmenti in 1906 and described it as a peculiar pigmentation of the skin in an infant with mental deficiency and tetraplegia.Subsequently, Bloch and Sulzberger further defined the condition in 1926 and 1928, respectively, as a clinical syndrome.Bruno Bloch (1878-1933), (Fig. 1) is a Swiss dermatologist.His name is also linked to "Bloch's reaction'' or more commonly named "Dopa stain'', which is, a dark staining observed in fresh tissue sections to which a solution of dopa has been applied, presumably due to the presence of dopa oxidase in the protoplasm of certain cells.Marion Baldur Sulzberger (1895-1983), was one of the most famous American dermatologists.He had received his training in dermatology in Zurich (Switzerland) from 1926 to 1929.
Fanconi anemia [2,4] It is one of the rare hereditary diseases characterized by genetic defects of DNA repair mechanisms, which share many clinical features such as growth retardation, neurological disorders, premature ageing, skin alterations including abnormal pigmentation, telangiectasia, xerosis cutis, pathological wound healing as well as an increased risk of developing different types of cancer.
It is named for, Guido Fanconi (1892-1979), (Fig. 2); a Swiss paediatrician.His name is also linked to Fanconi syndrome (osteomalacia, aminoaciduria, hyperphosphaturia, glycosuria and aciduria).Horner syndrome [6] This syndrome is characterized by drooping of the eyelid (ptosis) and constriction of the pupil (miosis), sometimes accompanied by decreased sweating of the face on the same side.It occurs due to a defect in the sympathetic nervous system.It is named after Johann Friedrich Horner (1831-1886), (Fig. 4), a Swiss doctor who laterBecame an ophthalmologist.He was the founder of modern scientific Swiss ophthalmology.

A courtesy of National library of Medicine
Eponyms in dermatology literature linked to Switzerland Remarks Jadassohn-Tieche nevus [7,8] This term was once used for a blue nevus.It is named after Max Tièche (1878-1938), (Fig. 5), a Swiss physician and Joseph Jadassohn (1863-1936), a German dermatologist.
Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) [9] LHS is a rare acquired disorder characterized by diffuse macular hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa and, at times, longitudinal melanonychia.Laugier-Hunziker syndrome was first described in 1970 by Laugier (from France) and Hunziker (from Switzerland).
The first recognizable description of EPS was provided by Fischer in 1927 but was offered as an example of Kyrle disease.Jones and Smith also described elastosis perforans serpiginosa in 1947 but mistook it for porokeratosis of Mibelli.In 1953, Lutz recognized the features of EPS as those of an unknown disease and termed the condition keratosis follicularis serpiginosa.Miescher believed the condition was unique and termed it elastoma intrapapillare perforans verruciform.Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome (NFJS) [13] It is a rare symptom complex out of the spectrum of ectodermal dysplasia.The main clinical findings are absence of dermatoglyphs, reticularor mottled hyperpigmentation, hypohidrosis and nail dystrophy.NFJS is named after Oskar Naegeli, Adolphe Franceschetti and Josef Jadassohn.Oskar Naegeli (1885-1959), (Fig. 8), was a Swiss dermatologist.Adolphe Franceschetti (1896-1968), was a Swiss ophthalmologist.Josef Jadassohn (1863-1936), was a German dermatologist.
Secretan's syndrome [15] It is an edema of the limbs due to factitious factors like self-inflicted trauma with a hard object.In 1916, Henri-Francois Secretin (1856-1916), (Fig. 10), a Swiss physician, reported this condition.

Figure 1 .Figure 2
Figure 1.Bruno Bloch (1878-1933).With kind permission of The Alumni Association of the Medical Faculty of the University of Basel / Switzerland

Figure 5 .Figure 6
Figure 5. Max Tièche (1878-1938).A courtesy of Archives of the Institute for the History of Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland