Eponyms in the dermatology literature linked to Denmark

Abstract

Denmark, officially the Kingdom of Denmark, as it is known, is a state in the Scandinavian region of Northern Europe. The estimated population is around ,5,580,413. The national language is Danish [1]. Denmark has one of the world’s highest per capita income. For 2013, Denmark is listed 15th on the Human Development Index.Danish engineers are world-leading in providing diabetes care equipment and medication products [1]. The most famous medical eponyms linked to Denmark are The Bartholin glands and Hirschsprung disease. The Bartholin glands are two glands located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina They were first described in 1677, by the Danish anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Younger (1655–1738) [2]. Some sources mistakenly ascribe their discovery to his grandfather, theologian and anatomist Caspar Bartholin the Elder (1585–1629). Gaspard Bartholin had the good fortune during his stay in Paris to meet Joseph Guichard du Verney, a French anatomist who had discovered the glandula vestibuloris major. Back in Copenhagen he was appointed professor of anatomy. At the age of 21, he described the physiology of the glandula vestibuloris major, later known as Batholin’s gland. Ennobled, laden with honours, he was later appointed personal physician to the king of Denmark until his death in 1738 [2]. Hirschsprung disease is a developmental disorder of the enteric nervous system and is characterized by an absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon resulting in a functional obstruction. The first report of Hirschsprung disease dates back to 1691, however, the disease is named after Harald Hirschsprung (18301916), the Danish physician who first described two infants who died of this disorder in 1888 [3]. In Table I [4-9], we highlighted on selected eponyms in dermatology literature, linked to Denmark. EPONYMS IN THE DERMATOLOGY LITERATURE LINKED TO DENMARK