Apr

15

2022

Did You Know That Alfred Donné (1801-1878) Invented Photomicrography?

By Shaun Richard McCann

Did you know that Alfred Donné (1801-1878) invented photomicrography?

Alfred Donné was a French public health doctor. He invented photomicrography and discovered Trichomonas Vaginalis in Parisienne Prostitutes. More importantly he suggested that leukemia was a differentiation arrest!

He held classes in microscopy, at his own expense, in Paris. He was disparaged by the French Medical Establishment because he was not a professor! That prejudice still exists!

Some people suggested he was looking at artefact. That’s what we all look at! Because of his tenacity, microscopy became the mainstay of hematology.

Unfortunately young trainees to day tend to rely on more sophisticated tests. The careful examination of a well – made blood smear still provides very useful and inexpensive information.

From: Journal of Medical Biography 2009; 17: 81– 87

Learn more here.