Joseph Castaigne

Joseph Philippe Emmanuel Castaigne (February 27, 1871 - September 21, 1951) was a French internist who was a native of Bassac, Charente.

He studied at the Medical University of Paris, and was later an interne of hospitals in Paris, where in 1908 became "Médecin des hôpitaux". During World War I, he was responsible for the treatment of wounded soldiers at a hospital in Vichy, and after the war became head of medical services at Hôpital de la Charité.

In 1920, following the death of his oldest son, he relocated to the village of Cébazat, near Clermont-Ferrand. Castaigne felt that a small village environment would be beneficial in raising his other children. At Clermont-Ferrand he eventually attained the directorship of its medical school, and worked there until 1942.

At Paris he studied under Anatole Chauffard (1855-1932) and Augustin Nicolas Gilbert (1855-1927), and performed investigations involving renal functionality with internist Emile Charles Achard (1860-1944). With Achard the "Achard-Castaigne test" is named, which is an urinary test using methylene blue dye to examine the excretory function of the kidneys. His name is also lent the "Castaigne test" for examining the density of urine.

References

* [http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/507.html "Joseph Castaigne"] @ Who Named It