Étienne Stéphane Tarnier
Encyclopedia
Étienne Stéphane Tarnier (1828 – 1897) was a French obstetrician who was a native of Aiserey
. He studied and practiced medicine in Paris
, and is often considered as doyen of French obstetrics
during the second half of the nineteenth century. Some of his better-known assistants were obstetricians Pierre-Constant Budin
(1846-1907), Pierre-Victor-Adolphe Auvard
(1855-1941) and Adolphe Pinard
(1844-1934).
Tarnier is remembered for his work involving the perinatal aspects of obstetrics, and particularly treatment of premature infants
. In the 1870s he realized that keeping a constant temperature
was not sufficient for a premature infant's survival. He believed that isolation, hygiene
, appropriate feeding, and a warm, humid environment were also necessary. Inspired by a device used to incubate poultry, Tarnier introduced prototypes of infant incubators to the Paris Maternité in 1881. These devices were basically wooden boxes with glass lids and compartments that contained hot-water bottles. He called his "baby-warming device" a "couveuse", and through it Tarnier was responsible for a 28 percent decrease in infant mortality
over a three-year period at the Paris Maternité.
Tarnier was not the inventor of the infant incubator, but was the first to apply it for regular care of the premature. In 1857 surgeon
Jean-Louis-Paul Denucé (1824-1889) provided the first description of an "incubator crib", and in 1864 obstetrician Carl Credé
(1819-1892), constructed a double-wall crib that used circulated hot water to heat the walls of the crib.
In the 1880s, Dr. Auvard made modifications to Tarnier's conveuse. The "Auvard incubator" was an inexpensive device of simple design that soon became widely popular, and variants of this incubator were still in use into the 20th century.
Among his written works was the 1900 publication Le Nourrisson, which was later translated into English as the "The Nursling". Also, a type of axis-traction forceps
called the "Tarnier forceps" is named after him.
Aiserey
Aiserey is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a small town situated on the Canal of Burgundy, which passes through the town. The town is best known for being home to the only sugar refinery in Bourgogne...
. He studied and practiced medicine in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and is often considered as doyen of French obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
during the second half of the nineteenth century. Some of his better-known assistants were obstetricians Pierre-Constant Budin
Pierre-Constant Budin
Pierre-Constant Budin was a French obstetrician who was a native of Enancourt-le-Sec, a village in northwestern France. In 1876 he earned his medical degree in Paris, and in 1882 became chief obstetrician at the Hôpital de la Charité. In 1895 he succeeded Étienne Stéphane Tarnier as chair of...
(1846-1907), Pierre-Victor-Adolphe Auvard
Pierre-Victor-Adolphe Auvard
Pierre-Victor-Adolphe Auvard ; was a French obstetrician and gynecologist who was born in the department of Corrèze....
(1855-1941) and Adolphe Pinard
Adolphe Pinard
right|thumb|Adolphe Pinard Adolphe Pinard was a French obstetrician who was a native of Méry-sur-Seine. He practiced medicine in Paris, where he was an assistant to Étienne Stéphane Tarnier and a professor of obstetrics.Pinard was a pioneer of modern perinatal care and the "puericulture movement"...
(1844-1934).
Tarnier is remembered for his work involving the perinatal aspects of obstetrics, and particularly treatment of premature infants
Premature birth
In humans preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. The cause for preterm birth is in many situations elusive and unknown; many factors appear to be associated with the development of preterm birth, making the reduction of preterm birth a challenging...
. In the 1870s he realized that keeping a constant temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
was not sufficient for a premature infant's survival. He believed that isolation, hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
, appropriate feeding, and a warm, humid environment were also necessary. Inspired by a device used to incubate poultry, Tarnier introduced prototypes of infant incubators to the Paris Maternité in 1881. These devices were basically wooden boxes with glass lids and compartments that contained hot-water bottles. He called his "baby-warming device" a "couveuse", and through it Tarnier was responsible for a 28 percent decrease in infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
over a three-year period at the Paris Maternité.
Tarnier was not the inventor of the infant incubator, but was the first to apply it for regular care of the premature. In 1857 surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
Jean-Louis-Paul Denucé (1824-1889) provided the first description of an "incubator crib", and in 1864 obstetrician Carl Credé
Carl Siegmund Franz Credé
Carl Siegmund Franz Credé was a German gynecologist and obstetrician who was a native of Berlin. In 1842 he received his doctorate from the University of Berlin. In 1852 he became director of the "Berlin School of Midwives" and chief physician of the maternity division at the Berlin Charité...
(1819-1892), constructed a double-wall crib that used circulated hot water to heat the walls of the crib.
In the 1880s, Dr. Auvard made modifications to Tarnier's conveuse. The "Auvard incubator" was an inexpensive device of simple design that soon became widely popular, and variants of this incubator were still in use into the 20th century.
Among his written works was the 1900 publication Le Nourrisson, which was later translated into English as the "The Nursling". Also, a type of axis-traction forceps
Forceps
Forceps or forcipes are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task. The term 'forceps' is used almost exclusively...
called the "Tarnier forceps" is named after him.