Georges Danjou

Georges Danjou
Portrait from obituary
Born	François Jules Georges Danjou (1862-06-17)17 June 1862 Limoux,Aude, France
Died	13 May 1926(1926-05-13)(aged 63) 14th arrondissement of Paris,France
Resting place	Fougax-et-Barrineuf,France
Alma mater	University of Paris(Faculty of Medicine)
Occupation(s)	Physician, physiotherapist, military doctor, writer, activist
Spouses	Marie Louise Scheppers ​ ​ (m.1902)​
Military career
Allegiance	France
Service/ branch	French Army
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Awards	Legion of Honour Croix de Guerre 1914–1918

François Jules Georges Danjou(17 June 1862 – 13 May 1926) was a French physician, physiotherapist, military doctor, public health reformer, writer, andvegetarianismactivist. He received theLegion of HonourandCroix de Guerre 1914–1918for his military medical service. He also served as President of theFrench Vegetarian Societyand was the founder of theInternational Vegetarian Union.

Biography

Early life and education

François Jules Georges Danjou was born inLimoux,Aude, on 17 June 1862.The small village he grew up in was known for its rich history of gold and iron.

Danjou pursued his education at the College of Foix.He later studied at the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, part of theUniversity of Paris.In 1887, he successfully defended his thesis on the study of deforming osteoarthropathies incongenital syphilis,for hisDoctorate in Medicine.

Military medical career

After completing his medical studies, Danjou joined the French military as a doctor. Early in his career, he served at theVal-de-Grâcemilitary hospital.During this period, he became a member of the Decoeur Mission, where he contracted a severe purulentophthalmiawhile treatingBambaranatives. Despite undergoing 18 months of treatment, his vision remained significantly weakened.

For his service, he was awarded theLegion of Honourand transferred to the reserve of the active army.

Civilian medical career and advocacy

After leaving active military service, Danjou qualified as a sanitary physician and began working as aship's doctor.He advocated for significant maritime health reforms. However, his uncompromising reformist stance led to his resignation from this post.

Danjou then redirected his focus to physical education and physiotherapy. He traveled toStockholm,Sweden, where he studied at the prestigiousRoyal Central Gymnastics Institute.Upon returning to France, he became a vocal critic of outdated practices in French physical and medical education.

Danjoy was also an advocate forvegetarianism.He served as president of theFrench Vegetarian Societyand proposed the creation of the International Vegetarian Union at an international meeting of the Vegetarian Society in 1907.He also founded a vegetarian group in Nice and a Catalonian vegetarian society.

World War I service

At the outbreak of World War I, Danjou volunteered for mobilization. He initially served in the trenches of theArgonne,but his desire for greater involvement led to his deployment to theArmée d'Orient.There, he participated in the retreat from Serbia under extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as −20 °C (−4 °F).

During this campaign, he contractedmalariafrom mosquitoes near theVardar River.Despite his illness, he continued to serve. In Greece, he transformed a marshland camp into a model hospital that became a "garden city", where French soldiers were well cared for under his leadership.

For his service, Danjou was promoted tolieutenant colonel,awarded theCroix de Guerre 1914–1918,and made an Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Later life and death

Following the war, Danjou faced significant challenges in re-establishing his civilian medical career in Nice. Despite his struggles, he continued to participate in medical and public health conferences across France, advocating for modernization and reform. His relentless efforts earned him both admiration and opposition, as he often clashed with mediocrity and resistance to change.

Danjou died on 13 May 1926 in the14th arrondissement of Paris.It was suspected that he died due to complications from malaria. He was buried in his native village where a bronze medallion was placed on his tomb with a sculpture by Grégoire Calvet.

Selected publications

• L'Oeuvre de régénération sociale poursuivie par l'Association nationale de préparation des jeunes gens au service militaire, conférence faite, le 3 mai 1905, au palais de la Jetée-Promenade à Nice, par le Dr G. Danjou(1905)
• Radioactivité des eaux thermales de L'Echaillon à Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne(1909)
• L'Éducation physique de la femme(Paris: 1913)