Thomas Hodgkin
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A Portrait in History Thomas Hodgkin Venita Jay, MD, FRCPC he morbid alterations of structure which I am about to T describe are probably familiar to many practical mor- bid anatomists, since they can scarcely have failed to have fallen under their observation in the course of cadaveric inspection. They have not, as far as I am aware, been made the subject of special attention.'' Thus began the famous January 1832 text of Thomas Hodgkin (1798±1866) entitled On some morbid appearances of the absorbent glands and spleen. Hodgkin brought to at- tention and emphasized the simultaneous involvement of the lymph glands and the spleen in a series of cases but had perhaps not intended to de®ne a new pathologic en- tity. He was, in fact, dealing with not only cases of lym- phoma but also examples of other etiologies such as tu- berculosis. It was Samuel Wilks, the illustrious biographer of Guy's Hospital, who in 1865 coined the name Hodgkin's disease, which now remains etched in history. Hodgkin received his early education from his father, who was a well-known classicist and grammarian. He graduated with a medical degree from Edinburgh Medical College in 1823 and also studied in France and Italy. In 1825, he was appointed lecturer in morbid anatomy and curator of the museum in London's Guy's Hospital. Thus started the illustrious career of this great English patholo- gist, who was later named one of the ``Great Men of Guy's.'' Performing autopsies and handling a large volume of pathologic material, Hodgkin signi®cantly enhanced the museum's collection and aided retrieval of tissue samples and their use by adding an accurate catalog. His essay on medical education in 1823 encompassed a signi®cant vol- ume of work, and his morbid anatomy of the serous and mucous membranes, written between 1836 and 1840, was one of the earliest English treatises on pathology. Thomas Hodgkin. Illustration by Venita Jay, MD, FRCPC. Of course, Hodgkin's name is preserved in history for his classic description of a disease characterized by the Corrigan 3 years later. This important work focused on enlargements of groups of lymph nodes and spleen. Mal- retroversion and incompetence of the aortic valves. pighi had previously alluded to the simultaneous enlarge- Hodgkin held his post as curator at Guy's Hospital until ment of the spleen and lymphatic glands in 1665. Hodg- 1837. Greatly disappointed when he failed to get promoted kin's own description was before the time of ``cellular pa- to assistant physician, Hodgkin left the hospital and his thology'' and was based on gross appearances. Hodgkin pathology practice. A devout Quaker and a member of the also wrote another classic paper on the insuf®ciency of Society of Friends, Hodgkin achieved international emi- the aortic valve in 1829, antedating the classic paper by nence for his social activism in championing the emanci- pation of oppressed Africans, the poor, and persecuted Jews. He undertook an unforgettable journey to Morocco in Accepted for publication July 26, 1999. 1863 to intercede on behalf of some Jews facing persecution From the Division of Pathology, The Hospital for Sick Children, To- on accusations of poisoning a local of®cial. Narrative of a ronto, Ontario, Canada. Journey to Morocco in 1863 and 1864 was an extraordinary The author acknowledges that the general biographical overview presented does not necessarily include all of the accomplishments or account by Hodgkin of his journey, with a vivid commen- achievements associated with the person discussed. Dr. Jay welcomes tary of social customs and geography and his encounter comments from readers concerning the ``A Portrait in History'' section. with the emperor of Morocco. On April 4, 1866, following Reprints not available from the author. a severe attack of dysentery, Hodgkin died in Joppa. 1144 Arch Pathol Lab MedÐVol 123, December 1999 Thomas HodgkinÐJay.