Austin Flint, 2nd
Encyclopedia
Austin Flint was an American
physician, born at Northampton
, Massachusetts
, son of Austin Flint
. He attended medical lectures at the University of Louisville
from 1854 to 1856 and in 1856 and 1857 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. From 1857 to 1859 he was editor of the Buffalo Medical Journal, surgeon of Buffalo City Hospital, and professor
of physiology
and microscopical anatomy in the University at Buffalo. In 1859 he removed to New York City
with his father and was appointed professor of physiology in New York Medical College
. He was professor of physiology in the New Orleans Medical College in 1860 and studied in Europe
in 1860 and 1861. He was professor of physiology and microscopic anatomy in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from 1861 till that institution was consolidated with the medical department of New York University
in 1898, when he was appointed professor of physiology in Cornell University Medical College. He was, in 1874, Surgeon-General of New York
. He carried out extensive experimental investigations in human physiology and made several important discoveries. He assisted in establishing the glycogenic function of the liver
; showed that one of the functions of the liver is to separate from the blood the cholesterin, which is a product of the nervous system. and which, becoming a constituent of the bile
, is afterward converted into what he named "stercorin" (better known as coprosterol
), the odorous principle of feces
. His principal works are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician, born at Northampton
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, son of Austin Flint
Austin Flint
Austin Flint was an American physician, born at Petersham, Massachusetts He was educated at Amherst and Harvard and graduated at the latter in 1833. After practicing at Boston and Northampton, he moved to Buffalo, N. Y., in 1836...
. He attended medical lectures at the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
from 1854 to 1856 and in 1856 and 1857 at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. From 1857 to 1859 he was editor of the Buffalo Medical Journal, surgeon of Buffalo City Hospital, and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and microscopical anatomy in the University at Buffalo. In 1859 he removed to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with his father and was appointed professor of physiology in New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
. He was professor of physiology in the New Orleans Medical College in 1860 and studied in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1860 and 1861. He was professor of physiology and microscopic anatomy in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from 1861 till that institution was consolidated with the medical department of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1898, when he was appointed professor of physiology in Cornell University Medical College. He was, in 1874, Surgeon-General of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He carried out extensive experimental investigations in human physiology and made several important discoveries. He assisted in establishing the glycogenic function of the liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
; showed that one of the functions of the liver is to separate from the blood the cholesterin, which is a product of the nervous system. and which, becoming a constituent of the bile
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
, is afterward converted into what he named "stercorin" (better known as coprosterol
Coprosterol
Coprosterol is the odorous principle of feces. American physician Austin Flint named it stercorin. It is also generally called coprostanol, especially in reference to its effects on the environment....
), the odorous principle of feces
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
. His principal works are:
- Experimental Researches into a New Excretory Function of the Liver (1862)
- The Physiology of Man (fourth edition, 1888)
- Chemical Examinations of Urine in Diseases (six editions, 1870–1884)
- Effects of Severe and Protracted Muscular Exercises (1871)
- Source of Muscular Power (1878)
- Text-Book of Human Physiology (1875)
- Experiments Regarding a New Function of the Liver, Separating the Cholesterin of the Blood and Eliminating it as Stercorin (1862)
- The Physiology of the Nervous System (1872)
- Mechanism of Reflex Nervous Action in Normal Respiration (1874)
- The Treatment of Diabetes MellitusDiabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
(1884) - Chemical Examination of the Urine in Disease (1893)
- Stercorin and Cholesterœmia (1897)
- Handbook of Physiology (1905)
Terms
- Flint's arcade—an arteriovenous arch at the base of the renal pyramidsRenal pyramidsRenal pyramids are cone-shaped tissues of the kidney. The renal medulla is made up of 7 to 18 of these conical subdivisions . The broad base of each pyramid faces the renal cortex, and its apex, or papilla, points internally...
.
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- Dorland's Medical Dictionary (1938)