Pierre Demours (1702 – June 26, 1795) was a French physician, zoologist and translator.
Biography
Demours was born in Marseilles ; his father was a pharmacist. He is not convinced with his son, [1] Antoine-Pierre Demours (1762-1836), also a renowned eye specialist and author.
He studied medicine in Avignon then Paris. He became a doctor in Avignon then went back to Paris for further study. Duverney thing him as his assistant. At Duverney’s death (1730) Pierre Chirac thing Demours to succeed him as a demonstrator at the Jardin du Roy . He lost that position at Chirac ‘s death two years later. [2] He then thought of returning to Avignon Antoine Petit made him his collaborator. [3]
On the subject of a small specialist in the anatomy and diseases of the eye and became a successful oculist . He described the membrane as being between the corneal “proper substance” and the endothelial layer of the cornea. He had a priority dispute over this with John Descemet (1732-1810). [4] The structure which is known to the membrane of Descemet is still still referred to the membrane of Demours or Tunica Demoursii .
His description of the reproduction of the common midwife toad ( Alytes obstetricans ) was met with disbelief and only received credit by Arthur from the Isle du Dréneuf in 1872.
Demours was a very active translator from English to French. His translations include medical essays of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh and a few volumes of the Transactions of the Royal Society . [5] Stephen Hales ‘ book about ventilation, which is credited for a dramatic decrease in mortality in prisons and ships, was also made available in French by Demours.
He died in Paris in 1795. [6]
Selected works
As an author
- Observations concerning Natural History and Eye Disease (1740)
- “Observations on the male toad attending the female”. History of the Royal Academy of Sciences (1741), hist. 28. [3] The reproduction of the common midwife toad .
- On the cell structure of the vitreous body (1741)
- Observations on the cornea (1741)
As an editor
- General Table of Contents in the History and Memories of the Royal Academy of Sciences (1747). Numerous volumes.
As a translator
- Essays and Medical Observations of the Edinburgh Society: A Work Translated from the English, & Increased by the Translator of Observations Concerning Natural History, & Eye Diseases (1740-1747) OCLC 1909981
- E. Hales . [7] Description of the fan … (1744) doi : 10.3931 / e-rara-14066
- Henry Baker . Test on the natural history of the polyp, insect (1744) [8]
- John Ranby . Method of treating the wounds of firearms by Mr. J. Ranby, first surgeon of the King of England … (1745) [9]
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Years 1737 to 1746 (1759-1761) [3]
References
- Dezeimeris, Jean-Eugene , ” Demours (Pierre) “. Historical Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Medicine
- Nicolas Eloy, ” Demours, (Pierre) “. Historical Dictionary of Ancient and Modern Medicine , vol. 2 , p. 25
- Feller, François Xavier of . ” Demours (Pierre) “. Universal Biography Volume: 3-4, p. 195
- Turner, Anthony. An interrupted story: French translations from Philosophical Transactions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries doi : 10.1098 / rsnr.2008.0006 (On Notes and Records of the Royal Society )
- Jump up^ Have Some library catalogs do (2013).
- Jump up^ Chirac, described as a vain and ambitious man, had reigned over the distribution of positions. Much of his action was undone after his death.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c Dezeimeris
- Jump up^ The discovery est Attributed To Duddell Benedict: A treatise of the diseases of the horny coat of the eye 1729.
- Jump up^ Demours pointed out that “Turner”(Translated from French for “Turner”)
- Jump up^ Feller.
- Jump up^ “E.” stands for “Stephen” = “Stephen”.
- Jump up^ RecordonSUDOC. Original title:An attempt at a natural history of thepolyp in a letter to Martin Folkes …
- Jump up^ Recordon SUDOC.