Hebra Purrigo (Hebra F., 1816–1880) - Austrian dermatologist, one of the founders of dermatology in Europe.
Purrigo was a doctor by training and began his career in Vienna. He specialized in the treatment of skin diseases and developed new diagnostic and treatment methods, including the use of mercury and other heavy metals to treat scabies.
In 1857, Purrigo published his first scientific work, in which he described a new method of treating scabies using mercury. This method became widely used in dermatological practice and was used until the end of the 19th century.
In addition, Purrigo made significant contributions to the development of dermatology as a science. He developed the first classification of skin diseases, which is still used in medicine. He also studied the causes of skin diseases and developed new treatments.
However, despite all of Purrigo's achievements, his treatment methods were controversial and attracted criticism from his colleagues. In particular, the use of heavy metals in medicine has been associated with the risk of severe side effects.
Despite this, Purrigo continued his scientific activities and published many works on dermatology. He was one of the first to study the pathogenesis of scabies and developed new methods for its treatment.