Duhring, louis adolphus

(¤ 1845, † 1913) Dermatologist, working in Philadelphia. Duhring is considered the father of American dermatology. He was born on 23.12.1845 in Philadelphia as the son of immigrants. His mother came from Switzerland, his father from Germany. Duhring studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania until 1867. During his time as an intern at Blockley Hospital he discovered his interest in skin diseases. In 1868 a 2-year dermatological study trip took him to Berlin, Vienna, Paris and London. Later he visited Istanbul. He also travelled to Norway for leprosy studies. In 1870 he settled in Philadelphia as a dermatologist and founded the Philadelphia Dispensery for Skin Diseases with Arthur Van Harlingen. In 1870 he published the journal "The Photographic Review of Medicine and Surgery". In 1871 he became a lecturer at the Pennsylvania University and in 1875 he was appointed professor for skin diseases. In 1876 he became director of the newly created department at Blockley Hospital. In the same year his monumental atlas was published. In 1877 Duhring published the first American textbook on skin medicine ("Practical treatise and skin diseases"). In 1884, Duhring described the dermatitis herpetiformis named after him. By the age of 32, Duhring was already considered an international authority. He was elected honorary member of dermatological societies in 5 European countries. In 1876, Duhring was one of the 16 founders of the American Dermatological Society and was its chairman twice in the following years. In 1910 he was retired and in 1912 was awarded an honorary doctorate. When Duhring died on 8 May 1913 at the age of 68, he left his university the enormous sum of over one million dollars.