Georges Dreyer
Encyclopedia
Georges Dreyer ForMemRS
(4 July 1873 - 17 August 1934) was a Danish pathologist.
He was born in Shanghai
, where his father was stationed as an officer with the Royal Danish Navy. In 1900 he earned his medical degree at the University of Copenhagen
, and subsequently worked as a bacteriologist, which included time spent at Finsen Institute
in Copenhagen
. In 1907 he became the first professor of pathology at Oxford University, a position he maintained until 1934. During World War I
, Dreyer was a consultant to the British Royal Flying Corps
. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in May 1921.
Georges Dreyer specialized in the fields of bacteriology
and virology
, and performed extensive studies involving vaccine
s and immunity
. He conducted investigations regarding variations of blood volume
among different species
, and the relationship of blood volume to an animals' surface area and weight. Dreyer is also credited with introducing a modification of the Widal test
for diagnosis of typhoid and paratyphoid.
Dreyer is remembered today for his work in respiratory physiology
, and experiments with oxygen
in regards to aviation
. During World War I he developed a device that was capable of administering low oxygen mixtures to test the effects of hypoxia
in aviators. He also developed a successful oxygen delivery system, and was responsible for installation of the first low-pressure chamber
at a British learning institution.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(4 July 1873 - 17 August 1934) was a Danish pathologist.
He was born in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, where his father was stationed as an officer with the Royal Danish Navy. In 1900 he earned his medical degree at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, and subsequently worked as a bacteriologist, which included time spent at Finsen Institute
Finsen Laboratory
The Finsen Laboratory is a cancer research lab at Rigshospitalet which is a part of Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark. The lab is named in honour of the nobel laureate Niels R. Finsen. The lab is doing research about several aspects of how the plasminogen activation system contributes to...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. In 1907 he became the first professor of pathology at Oxford University, a position he maintained until 1934. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Dreyer was a consultant to the British Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in May 1921.
Georges Dreyer specialized in the fields of bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
and virology
Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy...
, and performed extensive studies involving vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s and immunity
Immunity (medical)
Immunity is a biological term that describes a state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. Immunity involves both specific and non-specific components. The non-specific components act either as barriers or as eliminators of wide...
. He conducted investigations regarding variations of blood volume
Blood volume
Blood volume is the volume of blood in the circulatory system of an individual.-Humans:A typical adult has a blood volume of approximately between 4.7 and 5 liters, with females generally having less blood volume than males....
among different species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and the relationship of blood volume to an animals' surface area and weight. Dreyer is also credited with introducing a modification of the Widal test
Widal test
Test whereby bacteria causing typhoid fever are mixed with serum containing specific antibodies obtained from an infected individual. It is a presumptive serological test for enteric fever or undulant fever. In case of Salmonella infections, it is a demonstration of the presence of O-soma...
for diagnosis of typhoid and paratyphoid.
Dreyer is remembered today for his work in respiratory physiology
Respiratory physiology
Respiratory physiology is the branch of human physiology focusing upon respiration.Topics include:-Volumes:* lung volumes* vital capacity* functional residual capacity* dead space* spirometry* body plethysmography* peak flow meter-Mechanics:...
, and experiments with oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
in regards to aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
. During World War I he developed a device that was capable of administering low oxygen mixtures to test the effects of hypoxia
Hypoxia (medical)
Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise...
in aviators. He also developed a successful oxygen delivery system, and was responsible for installation of the first low-pressure chamber
Pressure vessel
A pressure vessel is a closed container designed to hold gases or liquids at a pressure substantially different from the ambient pressure.The pressure differential is dangerous and many fatal accidents have occurred in the history of their development and operation. Consequently, their design,...
at a British learning institution.