Jean-Nicolas Comhaire
Jean-Nicolas Comhaire was present from the very creation of the university. Together with his colleague Nicolas-Gabriel Ansiaux, he brought to the Faculty of Medicine an undeniable expertise acquired under the French regime. He was Rector for the academic year 1825-1826.
Born in Liège in 1778, Jean-Nicolas Comhaire trained in Paris with Dupuiystren, for whom he defended a distinguished thesis on the anatomical-physiological consequences of kidney removal (1803). Returning to Liège, Comhaire became a well-known physician, collaborating with Nicolas-Gabriel Ansiaux on the creation of the School of Surgery, forerunner of the Faculty of Medicine. He was appointed professor at the University of Liège in 1817. He taught not only anatomy and physiology, but also medical subjects and internal medicine. Later, after the arrival of Vincent Fohmann, he devoted more time to teaching hygiene.
Outside the institution, he is best remembered for his work on behalf of vaccination and as a public health inspector. At the end of his term as rector, he delivered a memorable speech, De vanitate systematum in clinice medica (1826). We owe him a study on the use of quinine (1830), which he was the first to use in Belgium, as well as unpublished meteorological observations (1804-1837).
Illustration: Comhaire, oil on canvas, s.d., Musée WittertUUUège, inv. 12683
