AXENFELD, AUGUSTE:

French physician; born at Odessa Oct. 25, 1825; died at Paris Aug. 25, 1876. He was a son of Israel Aksenfeld. After completing his school education at his native town, he went to Paris to study medicine, and in due course received his diploma as doctor of medicine from the Sorbonne. For his services during the cholera epidemic in Paris in 1849 and 1854 he was awarded two medals, and after having become a French citizen he was presented with the great gold medal of the "Assistance Publique."

In 1853 Axenfeld became lecturer at the Sorbonne, and in 1857 was elected a fellow. Shortly afterward he was appointed physician-in-chief at the hospital Beaujin, substituting as such professors Andral in the École de Médecine and Rostan in the Hôtel-Dieu. These positions he retained until 1871, when he was attacked with the severe cerebral disease which finally caused his death.

Axenfeld contributed many essays to the publication of the Société Anatomique, and was the author of: "Des Influences Nosocomiales," Paris, 1857; "Des Lésions Atrophiques de la Moëlle Epinière," in "Archives Générales," 1863; "Traité des Névroses," in Requin's "Traité de Pathologie Interne," published later (1883) by Henri Huchard; "Jean de Wier et les Sorciers," Paris, 1865; and jointly with Jules Beclard, "Rapport sur les Progrès de la Médecine en France," Paris, 1867.

Bibliography:
  • Nouveau Dict. Larousse Illustré, s.v.;
  • Pagel, Biographisches Lexikon, s.v., Vienna, 1901.
H. R. F. T. H.
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