Lecomte, Jean (1921-1996)

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Physiologist and physician, born in Mons-lez-Liège on 15 May 1921 and died in Liège on 23 September 1996.

Biography

Jean Lecomte was born in Mons-lez-Liège on 15 May 1921. He attended secondary school at the state school of Seraing. Upon the completion of his education, he received the Special Government Prize.
He then started his medical studies at the University of Liège. The German invasion in May 1940 interrupted his first candidacy. He was closely involved in the care of war victims, particularly during the Allied bombing raids and the Ardennes Offensive. After the cessation of hostilities, he was able to continue his education and obtain his candidate's diploma. In 1946, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Liège. He then worked as an internist and in 1947 he graduated as a hospital hygienist.
He married his colleague Ramioul Suzanne, together they had three children.
He was Zénon-Marcel Bacq's assistant from 1947 to 1948. At the same time, from 1947, he was the assistant of Professor J. Roskam at the hospital. In 1951, he was appointed work manager here.
In 1956, he presented his aggregate thesis on the role of histamine in anaphylactic phenomena. This thesis earned him his aggregate degree for higher education. In the same year he became a lecturer at the University of Liège and an associate researcher at the NFWO.
In 1958, he became professor of experimental physiology at the University of Liège where he succeeded Henri Robert Antoine Fredericq . In 1960, he became full professor. He was also closely involved in the organisation of postgraduate training. He helped to organise the geriatrics course.
In 1986, he was granted emeritus status. However, the administrative council of the University of Liège allowed him to continue his research in the laboratories of the Fredericq Institute.
He was editor of the Archives Internationales de Physiologie et de Biochimie.
At the University of Liège, he was a member of the Faculty of Medicine, of the Administrative Council, of the Council for the Institut de Psychologie et des Sciences de l'Education and of the Academic Study Council.
He became a corresponding member of the Académie royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique on 26 March 1983 and an effective member on 4 April 1992.
He was a member of the Académie royale de médecine de Belgique.
He also won several prizes: the Théophile Gluge-prize, the Leon Fredericq-prize and the Académie royale de médecine de Belgique prize.
He died on 23 September 1996 in Liège.

Works

He did research in psychopathology.
He also conducted research in immunology and anaphylactic shock. His focus was on the role of mast cells (mastocytes), polynuclear basophils and the histamine produced by the cells.
He furthermore researched the corticosteroids and the circulation of quinine. He also wrote publications on rheumatic diseases, astoma, pulmonary oedema, diuretic drugs and osteoporosis and studied the effects of hypoxia.
Moreover, accupunture, homeopathy, holistic medicine and the placebo effect were also discussed in his publications.

History of science
He also wrote multiple works on the history of medicine. He also publisched biographies of important Liège scientists.

Publications

• List with publications in: Dresse, Albert & Verly, Walter, "Lecompte Jean", In: Annuaire ARB, 1999 , p. 85-90.
  

Bibliography

• Dresse, Albert & Verly, Walter, "Lecompte Jean", In: Annuaire ARB, 1999 , p. 81-85.