Béchamp's rivalry with Pasteur was initially for priority in attributing fermentation to microorganisms, later for attributing the silkworm disease pebrine to microorganisms, and eventually over the validity of germ theory.[1][2]
Béchamp claimed to have discovered that the "molecular granulations" in biological fluids were actually the elementary units of life. He named them microzymas—that is, "tiny enzymes"—and credited them with producing both enzymes and cells while "evolving" amid favorable conditions into multicellular organisms. Béchamp also denied that bacteria could invade a healthy animal and cause disease, claiming instead that unfavorable host and environmental conditions destabilize the host's native microzymas and decompose host tissue by producing pathogenic bacteria.
While cell theory and germ theory gained widespread acceptance, granular theories have been rejected by current scientific consensus. Béchamp's version, microzymian theory, has been retained by small groups, especially in alternative medicine.[2] His work in understanding how the "terrain" may affect disease may have implications in emerging microbiome research.[3]
Béchamp was born in Bassing, France in 1816, the son of a miller. He lived in Bucharest, Romania from the ages of 7 to 18 with an uncle who worked in the French ambassador's office. He was educated at the University of Strasbourg, receiving a doctor of science degree in 1853 and doctor of medicine in 1856, and ran a pharmacy in the city. In 1854 was appointed Professor of Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, a post previously held by Louis Pasteur.[1][2]
Careeredit
In 1856, after receiving his medical degree, Béchamp took a position at the University of Montpellier, where he remained until 1876 when he was appointed Dean of the Catholic Faculty of Medicine at Université Lille Nord de France. Béchamp's time in Lille was stormy, as his dispute with Pasteur led to efforts to have his work placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (the index of books prohibited by the Catholic Church). Béchamp retired under this cloud in 1886, briefly ran a pharmacy with his son, and ultimately moved to Paris, where he was given a small laboratory at the Sorbonne. One of his students was Victor Galippe, a physician who studied micro-organisms in plants and their role in human health. He died at the age of 91, his work having faded into scientific obscurity and Pasteur's version of germ theory dominant.[1][2] A brief obituary in the British Medical Journal noted that Béchamp's name was "associated with bygone controversies as to priority which it would be unprofitable to recall."[4]
In the modern day, Béchamp's work continues to be promoted by a small group of alternative medicine proponents (also known as germ theory denialists), including advocates of alternative theories of cancer,[5] who dismiss Pasteur's germ theory and argue that Béchamp's ideas were unjustly ignored.[1][2] They accuse Pasteur, as did The French Academy of Sciences, of plagiarising and then suppressing Béchamp's work, citing work such as Ethel Douglas Hume's Béchamp or Pasteur: A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology from the 1920s.[5]
Literatureedit
Buiuc, D.; Pânzaru, C. (2008). "Antoine Béchamp and Victor Cornil Memento for Romanian pharmacy, chemistry and medicine". Revista medico-chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi (in Romanian). 112 (2): 560–566. PMID 19295038.
^Pontin, Jason. "The 19th-Century Crank Who Tried to Tell Us About the Microbiome". Wired. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
^"Obituary: Professor Bechamp". British Medical Journal. 1 (2471): 1150. 1908. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.2471.1150-b. PMC2436492.
^ abHess, David J. (1997). Can bacteria cause cancer?: alternative medicine confronts big science. NYU Press. p. 76. ISBN0-8147-3561-4.
External linksedit
About Antoine Bechamp and Pleomorphism (A Distant Mirror, publisher of Bechamp books)
Bechamp or Pasteur? (Book by E. Hume)
The Blood and its Third Element (Book by Antoine Bechamp)
Béchamp Synthesis of para-substituted arylarsenous acids and Transformation of nitro aromatics into amino aromatics 2006-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
antoine, béchamp, pierre, jacques, french, pronunciation, pjɛʁ, ʒak, twan, beʃɑ, october, 1816, april, 1908, french, scientist, best, known, breakthroughs, applied, organic, chemistry, bitter, rivalry, with, louis, pasteur, born, 1816, october, 1816bassing, fr. Pierre Jacques Antoine Bechamp French pronunciation pjɛʁ ʒak ɑ twan beʃɑ 16 October 1816 15 April 1908 was a French scientist now best known for breakthroughs in applied organic chemistry and for a bitter rivalry with Louis Pasteur 1 Antoine BechampAntoine BechampBorn 1816 10 16 16 October 1816Bassing FranceDied15 April 1908 1908 04 15 aged 91 Paris FranceNationalityFrenchKnown forBechamp reactionBechamp reductionScientific careerFieldsBiology Bechamp developed the Bechamp reduction an inexpensive method to produce aniline dye permitting William Henry Perkin to launch the synthetic dye industry Bechamp also synthesized the first organic arsenical drug arsanilic acid from which Paul Ehrlich later synthesized salvarsan the first chemotherapeutic drug Bechamp s rivalry with Pasteur was initially for priority in attributing fermentation to microorganisms later for attributing the silkworm disease pebrine to microorganisms and eventually over the validity of germ theory 1 2 Bechamp claimed to have discovered that the molecular granulations in biological fluids were actually the elementary units of life He named them microzymas that is tiny enzymes and credited them with producing both enzymes and cells while evolving amid favorable conditions into multicellular organisms Bechamp also denied that bacteria could invade a healthy animal and cause disease claiming instead that unfavorable host and environmental conditions destabilize the host s native microzymas and decompose host tissue by producing pathogenic bacteria While cell theory and germ theory gained widespread acceptance granular theories have been rejected by current scientific consensus Bechamp s version microzymian theory has been retained by small groups especially in alternative medicine 2 His work in understanding how the terrain may affect disease may have implications in emerging microbiome research 3 Contents 1 Early life family and education 2 Career 3 Literature 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life family and education editBechamp was born in Bassing France in 1816 the son of a miller He lived in Bucharest Romania from the ages of 7 to 18 with an uncle who worked in the French ambassador s office He was educated at the University of Strasbourg receiving a doctor of science degree in 1853 and doctor of medicine in 1856 and ran a pharmacy in the city In 1854 was appointed Professor of Chemistry at the University of Strasbourg a post previously held by Louis Pasteur 1 2 Career editIn 1856 after receiving his medical degree Bechamp took a position at the University of Montpellier where he remained until 1876 when he was appointed Dean of the Catholic Faculty of Medicine at Universite Lille Nord de France Bechamp s time in Lille was stormy as his dispute with Pasteur led to efforts to have his work placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum the index of books prohibited by the Catholic Church Bechamp retired under this cloud in 1886 briefly ran a pharmacy with his son and ultimately moved to Paris where he was given a small laboratory at the Sorbonne One of his students was Victor Galippe a physician who studied micro organisms in plants and their role in human health He died at the age of 91 his work having faded into scientific obscurity and Pasteur s version of germ theory dominant 1 2 A brief obituary in the British Medical Journal noted that Bechamp s name was associated with bygone controversies as to priority which it would be unprofitable to recall 4 In the modern day Bechamp s work continues to be promoted by a small group of alternative medicine proponents also known as germ theory denialists including advocates of alternative theories of cancer 5 who dismiss Pasteur s germ theory and argue that Bechamp s ideas were unjustly ignored 1 2 They accuse Pasteur as did The French Academy of Sciences of plagiarising and then suppressing Bechamp s work citing work such as Ethel Douglas Hume s Bechamp or Pasteur A Lost Chapter in the History of Biology from the 1920s 5 Literature editBuiuc D Panzaru C 2008 Antoine Bechamp and Victor Cornil Memento for Romanian pharmacy chemistry and medicine Revista medico chirurgicala a Societatii de Medici si Naturalisti din Iasi in Romanian 112 2 560 566 PMID 19295038 See also editPleomorphism microbiology Terrain theoryReferences edit a b c d e Manchester KL June 2001 Antoine Bechamp pere de la biologie Oui ou non Endeavour 25 2 68 73 doi 10 1016 S0160 9327 00 01361 2 PMID 11484677 a b c d e Manchester KL 2007 Louis Pasteur fermentation and a rival South African Journal of Science 103 9 10 ISSN 0038 2353 Pontin Jason The 19th Century Crank Who Tried to Tell Us About the Microbiome Wired Retrieved 13 July 2021 Obituary Professor Bechamp British Medical Journal 1 2471 1150 1908 doi 10 1136 bmj 1 2471 1150 b PMC 2436492 a b Hess David J 1997 Can bacteria cause cancer alternative medicine confronts big science NYU Press p 76 ISBN 0 8147 3561 4 External links editAbout Antoine Bechamp and Pleomorphism A Distant Mirror publisher of Bechamp books Bechamp or Pasteur Book by E Hume The Blood and its Third Element Book by Antoine Bechamp Bechamp Synthesis of para substituted arylarsenous acids and Transformation of nitro aromatics into amino aromatics Archived 2006 10 08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antoine Bechamp amp oldid 1187356351, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
