Hutchinson

HUTCHINSON, Jonathan (1828-1913), English dermatologist. After initial education, H. became a surgical apprentice to a surgeon in York, thus beginning the study of medicine through private practice. Simultaneously, H. attended York Hospital and the surgical school. In 1849, H. came to London, worked at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and after 22 years (1850), passing examinations, received the right to practice, becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. From the very beginning, H. was particularly interested in syphilis and for 20 years worked as a surgeon, ophthalmologist, and neurologist in many hospitals. H.'s scientific activity began at the age of 31, when he made a report "On means of recognizing among young men those who are burdened with hereditary syphilis." Subsequently, H. described a number of skin diseases (chillblain lupus, infective angioma, etc.), and also pointed out certain stigmata of nervous and especially congenital syphilis. H. remained a convinced supporter of the fish theory of leprosy until the end of his life. H. published a large atlas of skin diseases ("A descriptive catalogue of the New Sydenham Society's atlas of portraits of diseases of the skin", L., 1869-75) and released a textbook on syphilis ("Syphilis", L., 1885), which went through many editions and was translated into several languages. From 1889 to 1900, H. published "Archives of surgery" single-handedly. Being very broadly educated not only medically but also in other fields of knowledge, H. was much engaged in public activity. He built the People's Auditorium (near London), where he established (on Sundays) a People's University with a very diverse program. H. published the "Home University", something between a textbook, an encyclopedia, and a literary magazine. Finally, in 1899, he became the main initiator of courses for the improvement of physicians, at which he organized a free consultation for the poor. H. donated his richest medical museum to these courses. Starting from the 1860s, H. was a distinguished professor of surgery at the London Medical School, professor of surgery and pathology at the Royal College of Surgeons, president of the Hunterian Society, member of the Royal Society of London, chairman of the International Dermatological Congress in London in 1896, etc.