HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Paul Héger (born Paul Marie François Xavier Héger; 13 December 1846 – 8 November 1925) was a Belgian scientist. He was famous for his collaboration with the chemist
Ernest Solvay Ernest Gaston Joseph Solvay (; 16 April 1838 – 26 May 1922) was a Belgian chemist, industrialist and philanthropist. Biography Born in Rebecq, he was prevented by his acute pleurisy from going to university. He worked in his uncle's c ...
to discover the Solvay Process. Alongside Solvay, he donated a large sum of money to fund
Leopold Park Leopold Park (, ; ) is a public park of located within the Leopold Quarter (Brussels and the European Union, European Quarter) of Brussels, Belgium. It is adjacent to the Espace Léopold, Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Par ...
and helped establish the Solvay Institute of Physiology and Institute of Sociology. Additionally, he made substantial contributions to the understanding of
blood circulation In vertebrates, the circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the body. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, that consists of the heart an ...
, especially in the context of artificial circulation, demonstrating that the vascular
endothelium The endothelium (: endothelia) is a single layer of squamous endothelial cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The endothelium forms an interface between circulating blood or lymph in the lumen and the r ...
actively participates in circulation and
osmosis Osmosis (, ) is the spontaneous net movement or diffusion of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane, selectively-permeable membrane from a region of high water potential (region of lower solute concentration) to a region of ...
, challenging the view of blood vessels as passive conduits. He also discovered that adding
nicotine Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
to circulating blood increases blood flow speed through living tissues. Heger also made contributions to the understanding of
liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...
function. He found that the liver significantly reduces
alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...
concentration in blood, highlighting its role in
detoxification Detoxification or detoxication (detox for short) is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including the human body, which is mainly carried out by the liver. Additionally, it can refer to the period o ...
. Additionally, he showed that alkaloids are broken down into less toxic components within the liver, emphasizing its purifying function and its capacity to locate and store poisons.


Early life and education

Paul Héger was born to Constantin Héger and Claire Zoë Parent. His father, Constantin Héger, was a famous professor who was known for his correspondence with Charlotte and
Emily Brontë Emily Jane Brontë (, commonly ; 30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English writer best known for her 1847 novel, ''Wuthering Heights''. She also co-authored a book of poetry with her sisters Charlotte Brontë, Charlotte and Anne Bront� ...
. He inspired many of the characters in the Bronte novels including Mr. Rochester in
Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The firs ...
(1847). Paul enrolled at the
Vrije Universiteit Brussel The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Dutch language, Dutch, ; lit. Free University of Brussels; abbreviated VUB) is a Dutch- and English-speaking research university in Brussels, Belgium. It has four campuses: Brussels Humanities, Science and Engine ...
in 1864, where he studied medicine. In 1869, he conducted cytological research with
Salomon Stricker Salomon Stricker (1 January 1834 – 2 April 1898) was a pathologist and histologist from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Career Stricker was born in Waag-Neustadtl (, now Nové Mesto nad Váhom, Slovakia). He studied at the University of Vienna, a ...
at
Vienna General Hospital The Vienna General Hospital (), usually abbreviated to AKH, is the general hospital in Vienna, Austria. It is also the city's university hospital, and the site of the Medical University of Vienna. It is Europe's fifth largest hospital, b ...
. He graduated with his Doctor of Medicine in 1871 and went to continue residency in
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
. He also worked for a period of time in a laboratory in
Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
under the eminent physiologist
Carl Ludwig Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig (; 29 December 1816 – 23 April 1895) was a German physician and physiologist. His work as both a researcher and teacher had a major influence on the understanding, methods and apparatus used in almost all branche ...
, who was renowned for his research on
blood pressure Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure of Circulatory system, circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. Most of this pressure results from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system. When used without qualification, the term ...
, urinary excretion, and
anesthesia Anesthesia (American English) or anaesthesia (British English) is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prev ...
. Additionally, he worked alongside
Theodor Schwann Theodor Schwann (; 7 December 181011 January 1882) was a German physician and physiology, physiologist. His most significant contribution to biology is considered to be the extension of cell theory to animals. Other contributions include the d ...
who discovered
Schwann cells Schwann cells or neurolemmocytes (named after German physiologist Theodor Schwann) are the principal glia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Glial cells function to support neurons and in the PNS, also include Satellite glial cell, satellite ...
in the
peripheral nervous system The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of two components that make up the nervous system of Bilateria, bilateral animals, with the other part being the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS consists of nerves and ganglia, which lie outside t ...
and made substantial contributions to the
cell theory In biology, cell theory is a scientific theory first formulated in the mid-nineteenth century, that living organisms are made up of cells, that they are the basic structural/organizational unit of all organisms, and that all cells come from pr ...
.


Experimental research

In 1873, he published ''Experiment on the Circulation of Blood in Isolated Organs. Introduction to a Study on the Effects of Toxic Substances by the Method of Artificial Circulations.'' This work brought to light some important physiological properties; one showed that the vascular wall does not play a passive role, but that its cells, its
endothelium The endothelium (: endothelia) is a single layer of squamous endothelial cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. The endothelium forms an interface between circulating blood or lymph in the lumen and the r ...
, actively participate in the phenomena of circulation and those of
osmosis Osmosis (, ) is the spontaneous net movement or diffusion of solvent molecules through a selectively permeable membrane, selectively-permeable membrane from a region of high water potential (region of lower solute concentration) to a region of ...
. It showed, on the other hand, that the organs crossed by a blood current are not passive, but rather their cells exert a selective action on the products that the nourishing liquid brings them. He also found that the addition of
nicotine Nicotine is a natural product, naturally produced alkaloid in the nightshade family of plants (most predominantly in tobacco and ''Duboisia hopwoodii'') and is widely used recreational drug use, recreationally as a stimulant and anxiolytic. As ...
to the circulating blood considerably increases the speed of the current. This phenomenon does not depend on a blood modification determined by the
alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...
, because the circulation of this nicotine-laced blood in a dead organ no longer shows any change in speed. The blood flow only undergoes a progressive decrease that the addition of nicotine can no longer influence. The alkaloid therefore determines changes in the caliber of the capillaries by direct action on the vascular wall. In order to conclude from the data of artificial circulation to those of natural circulation, Heger instituted control experiments on the living animal. In these experiments the organs remain in relation with the
central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain, spinal cord and retina. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity o ...
and receive coagulable blood. The results of these experiments demonstrated the unequal absorption of toxic materials by the different organs. In crossing the liver, the blood loses about half of the alkaloid it contains; it loses nothing in crossing the lung placed in physiological inspiration. From these interesting observations, Heger drew two conclusions; the first is that the diffusion of alkaloids in the organs is influenced by the texture of the vascular walls. It is their special properties that create the differences observed in the absorption coefficient of the various organs for the same alkaloid. The second conclusion is that from these experiments it cannot be concluded that the poisons are located in the liver; instead, the alkaloid must be examined in the
parenchyma upright=1.6, Lung parenchyma showing damage due to large subpleural bullae. Parenchyma () is the bulk of functional substance in an animal organ such as the brain or lungs, or a structure such as a tumour. In zoology, it is the tissue that ...
. Heger also observed that the blood and the liver split
atropine Atropine is a tropane alkaloid and anticholinergic medication used to treat certain types of nerve agent and pesticide poisonings as well as some types of slow heart rate, and to decrease saliva production during surgery. It is typically give ...
into two constituents:
tropine Tropine is a derivative of tropane containing a hydroxyl group at the third carbon. It is also called 3-tropanol. It is a poisonous white hygroscopic crystalline powder. It is a heterocyclic alcohol and an amine. Tropine is a central building bl ...
and
tropic acid Tropic acid is a chemical with IUPAC name 3-hydroxy-2-phenylpropanoic acid and condensed structural formula HOCH2CH PhCOOH. It is a laboratory reagent used in the chemical synthesis of atropine and hyoscyamine. Tropic acid is a chiral substance, ...
, which no longer possess the toxic properties of the alkaloid. This body of work is of considerable importance. It highlights an unsuspected function of the
liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...
: the purifying function, which protects the blood against foreign or harmful products; as well as the property of locating and accumulating poisons. In 1878, Heger published ''A Critical and Experimental Study on the Emigration of Blood Globules, Considered in its Relationship with Inflammation.'' Prolonged observation of
leukocytes White blood cells (scientific name leukocytes), also called immune cells or immunocytes, are cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign entities. White blood cells are genera ...
, located in the white space, shows that the speed of translation of the cell gradually decreases, and that it ends up immobilizing itself against the vascular wall. From the moment contact is established, the cell loses its spherical shape, and emits extensions which insinuate themselves between the cells of the vascular endothelium. Heger showed that the white space increases when circulation slows down, as is the case when the vessels dilate, and the number of leukocytes which populate this space increases progressively. In 1880, he published ''Research on the Circulation of Blood in the Lungs.'' In his research, he found that the flow of blood through the
pulmonary vein The pulmonary veins are the veins that transfer Blood#Oxygen transport, oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. The largest pulmonary veins are the four ''main pulmonary veins'', two from each lung that drain into the left atrium of the h ...
decreases as the air pressure in the alveolar atmosphere rises. Natural inspiration therefore exerts suction on the alveolar surface and suction on the pleural surface of the lung. This double suction dilates the vessels and makes them more permeable to blood. The weakening of the right heart is more than compensated by the abundance of liquid that inspiration itself pours into the
heart The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrie ...
. The more air there is physiologically brought into the lung, the more blood there is in the organ. Additionally, Heger collaborated with Maurice Philippson and found that
adrenaline Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands a ...
, a powerful vasoconstrictor, does not, however, exert any modification on the flow of Locke's liquid, circulating in the lung during inspiration. Alongside Philippson, Heger hypothesized that the
nervous system In biology, the nervous system is the complex system, highly complex part of an animal that coordinates its behavior, actions and sense, sensory information by transmitting action potential, signals to and from different parts of its body. Th ...
distributes energy rather than produces energy. The experiments of Heger and Philippson supported this hypothesis in that the production of
carbonic acid Carbonic acid is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . The molecule rapidly converts to water and carbon dioxide in the presence of water. However, in the absence of water, it is quite stable at room temperature. The interconversion ...
in an animal is independent of the state of rest or activity of its nerve centers. The experiments of Atwater and Benedict later demonstrated on humans living in the respiratory chamber of Atwater Rosa, that cerebral activity does not determine any perceptible production of energy. Alongside Hubert Higgins, Heger conducted physiological experiments on
digestion Digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food compounds into small water-soluble components so that they can be absorbed into the blood plasma. In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intestine into th ...
and noted that the
soft palate The soft palate (also known as the velum, palatal velum, or muscular palate) is, in mammals, the soft biological tissue, tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is part of the palate of the mouth; the other part is ...
of the
mouth A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...
produces both positive and
negative pressure Negative may refer to: Science and mathematics * Negative number * Minus sign (−), the mathematical symbol * Negative mass * Negative energy * Negative charge, one of the two types of electric charge * Negative (electrical polarity), ...
. The soft palate of the mouth has the ability to make the mouth cavity airtight such that when food is swallowed in a gulp, the soft palate induces a backward motion in a phenomenon known as psomophagic swallowing. Conversely, he discovered that when food is finely masticated, the soft palate induces a forward motion known as poltophagic swallowing. His discovery was in support of
anthropological Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behaviour, wh ...
evidence which states that the shortening of the
upper jaw In vertebrates, the maxilla (: maxillae ) is the upper fixed (not fixed in Neopterygii) bone of the jaw formed from the fusion of two maxillary bones. In humans, the upper jaw includes the hard palate in the front of the mouth. The two maxillar ...
in combination with a vertical posture has given humans the ability to engage in both kinds of swallowing. These findings were popularized by American writer
Horace Fletcher Horace Fletcher (August 10, 1849 – January 13, 1919) was an American Fad diet, food faddist who earned the nickname "The Great Masticator" for his argument that food should be chewed thoroughly until liquefied before swallowing: "Nature will ...
.


Career

In 1889, he was appointed director of the Solvay Research Institute. During the First World War, he served as Vice-President of the
Université libre de Bruxelles The (French language, French, ; lit. Free University of Brussels; abbreviated ULB) is a French-speaking research university in Brussels, Belgium. It has three campuses: the ''Solbosch'' campus (in the City of Brussels and Ixelles), the ''Plain ...
(ULB) and held the position of President until 1924. His role as
president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...
was instrumental to the reform and expansion of the university. He played a key role in helping secure over 20 million
francs The franc is any of various units of currency. One franc is typically divided into 100 centimes. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription ''francorum rex'' ( King of the Franks) used on early French coins and until the 18th centur ...
from
John D. Rockefeller John Davison Rockefeller Sr. (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was one of the List of richest Americans in history, wealthiest Americans of all time and one of the richest people in modern hist ...
and other sources. As a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine, he sought to revolutionize medical education, shifting it from its traditionally dogmatic approach to one focused on experimentation. He emphasized hands-on learning over theoretical explanations, a method that resonated strongly with his students and attracted others, including figures like Hector Denis, Eugène Goblet d'Alviella, and
Paul Janson Paul Janson (11 April 1840 – 19 April 1913) was a Belgium, Belgian liberalism, liberal politician.Jean Francis ''Mes belges années'' 1974 "Paul Janson ne demeura que quatre ans dans la cité liégeoise car sa famille vint s'établir à I ...
, who traveled to attend his lectures. Starting in 1895, he directed the Solvay Institute of Physiology at
Leopold Park Leopold Park (, ; ) is a public park of located within the Leopold Quarter (Brussels and the European Union, European Quarter) of Brussels, Belgium. It is adjacent to the Espace Léopold, Paul-Henri Spaak building, the seat of the European Par ...
and founded the International Archives of Physiology in 1904, which was one of Europe’s earliest journals dedicated to physiological research. As Director of the Solvay Institute, he collaborated with
Hendrik Lorentz Hendrik Antoon Lorentz ( ; ; 18 July 1853 – 4 February 1928) was a Dutch theoretical physicist who shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Pieter Zeeman for their discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman effect. He derive ...
, who shared the 1902
Nobel Prize in Physics The Nobel Prize in Physics () is an annual award given by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for those who have made the most outstanding contributions to mankind in the field of physics. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the ...
with
Pieter Zeeman Pieter Zeeman ( ; ; 25 May 1865 – 9 October 1943) was a Dutch physicist who shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Hendrik Lorentz for their discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman effect. Childhood and youth Pieter Zeeman was ...
for his theoretical explanation of the
Zeeman effect The Zeeman effect () is the splitting of a spectral line into several components in the presence of a static magnetic field. It is caused by the interaction of the magnetic field with the magnetic moment of the atomic electron associated with ...
to write the rules for the Institute of Physics. He also collaborated with Solvay to form the Solvay enterprise and arrange the Solvay Conferences. The Solvay Conferences were a groundbreaking series of scientific meetings founded in 1911 that brought together the most brilliant minds in physics and chemistry to discuss the fundamental problems of science. The First Solvay Conference focused on Radiation and the Quanta, and was centered around early quantum theory. The conference hosted many prominent scientists including
Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...
,
Marie Curie Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie (; ; 7 November 1867 – 4 July 1934), known simply as Marie Curie ( ; ), was a Polish and naturalised-French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She was List of female ...
,
Max Planck Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck (; ; 23 April 1858 – 4 October 1947) was a German Theoretical physics, theoretical physicist whose discovery of energy quantum, quanta won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918. Planck made many substantial con ...
,
Hendrik Lorentz Hendrik Antoon Lorentz ( ; ; 18 July 1853 – 4 February 1928) was a Dutch theoretical physicist who shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Pieter Zeeman for their discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman effect. He derive ...
, and
Niels Bohr Niels Henrik David Bohr (, ; ; 7 October 1885 – 18 November 1962) was a Danish theoretical physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and old quantum theory, quantum theory, for which he received the No ...
. Heger's role was key in the governance and financing of future Solvay Conferences, selection process for participants, and long-term vision of creating a permanent international scientific community. Throughout his career, Heger mentored many prominent scientists, including
Jules Bordet Jules Jean Baptiste Vincent Bordet ( , ; 13 June 1870 – 6 April 1961) was a Belgian immunologist and microbiologist. The bacterial genus ''Bordetella'' is named after him. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to him in 1919 ...
, who was an internationally acclaimed immunologist. Bordet won the 1919
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine () is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, acco ...
for his work on the bacteria
Bordetella ''Bordetella'' () is a genus of small (0.2 – 0.7 Î¼m), Gram-negative, coccobacilli bacteria of the phylum Pseudomonadota. ''Bordetella'' species, with the exception of ''Bordetella petrii, B. petrii'', are obligate aerobes, as well as hig ...
. The street Rue Héger-Bordet in Brussels honors both Héger and Bordet. Heger was also well acquainted with zoologist
Élie Metchnikoff Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov (; – 15 July 1916), also spelled Élie Metchnikoff, was a zoologist from the Russian Empire of Moldavian noble ancestry and alshereat archive.org best known for his research in immunology (study of immune systems) and ...
, known for discovering
phagocytosis Phagocytosis () is the process by which a cell (biology), cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle (≥ 0.5 μm), giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome. It is one type of endocytosis. A cell that performs ph ...
, and nominated him for the 1908 Nobel Prize.


Personal life

In 1875, Héger married Léonie Van Mons, and the couple had three children. He was also part of a family of notable intellectuals and artists, including being the grandfather of the landscape architect René Pechère. He also provided the
British Museum The British Museum is a Museum, public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world. It documents the story of human cu ...
with four letters written by his father, Constantin Héger, to
Charlotte Brontë Charlotte Nicholls (; 21 April 1816 â€“ 31 March 1855), commonly known as Charlotte Brontë (, commonly ), was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë family, Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novel ...
, which were published in
The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
newspaper.''The Times'' 29 July 1913. Translated and with a commentary by Marion H. Spielmann Paul Héger died in Brussels on November 8, 1925, after being struck by a car. He is interred at
Watermael-Boitsfort Watermael-Boitsfort (French language, French, ) or Watermaal-Bosvoorde (Dutch language, Dutch, ; ), often simply called Boitsfort in French or Bosvoorde in Dutch, is one of the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, 19 municipal ...
cemetery.


References


External links

*
Heger on the Brussels Bronte Group website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heger, Paul 1846 births 1925 deaths 19th-century Belgian biologists Scientists from Brussels 20th-century Belgian biologists