Prof. Dr. Lajos Nékám (1868–1957) and Corpus Iconum Morborum Cutaneorum

Overview

Prof.
Dr. Lajos Nékám is one of the most important world-wide known Hungarian dermatologists. Lifework of Prof. Nékám is enormous. He found the Hungarian Dermatological Society and the Collegium Medicum. He was the superintendent of the Central Library of the Medical School, and the manager of the Publishing House of Hungarian Medical Books. He was the main organizer of the 9th International Dermatological Congress in Budapest. His significant publications are related to the following topics: the histopathology of dermatochalasis and Darier’s disease, cutaneous manifestations of myeloid leukemia, nosology of poikilodermas and the importance of focal infections in dermatology. There were even some diagnoses carrying his name (e.g. Porokeratosis striata Nékám). He led a fight against venereal diseases and mycotic infections. He also published a series of non-medical works dealing with history, linguistics and arts. His most important work is his historical dermatovenereological atlas of three volumes: Corpus Iconum Morborum Cutaneorum (1938) containing 4566 Figures. From these, 1407 was the property of Prof. Nékám, which constitute the one third (31%) of their whole number in the atlas. This volume is an example of international cooperation. 568 experts form 46 countries took part in its edition. 11 dermatologists from the 1st Czechoslovak republic contributed to the figures found of the atlas. Most of them belonged to the dermatological departments in Prague and Brno: Prim. V. Bandler, Prof. R. Bezecny, Prim. A. Fabian, Prof. K. Gawalowski, Prof. F. Král, Doc. J. Obrtel, Doc. E. Petráček, Prof. F. Šamberger, Dr. S. Stössl, Prof. A. Trýb, Prim. E. Wohlstein. The Figures of the atlas can be categorized according to 18 thematic groups.

Key words:
Lajos Nékám – Corpus Iconum Morborum Cutaneorum – Hungarian dermatology – Czechoslovak dermatology