2023-08-22 10:59:00
Louis Siméon, one of the directors of the Cercle Art et Histoire de Libramont, devotes a chapter to a relatively unknown local personality who nevertheless left his name to a street in LIbramont. This is Dr. Pierre Lomry.
He devoted his professional life to improving hygiene and fighting epidemics more effectively.
In his research, Mr. Siméon reveals in particular that this doctor was born in Honvelez (Gouvy), on April 3, 1868. “In July 1894, continues the author, he finished his medical studies at the University of Louvain and remained there as a trainer for courses in embryology and biological microscopy.“
We find him in Berlin at the end of 1896 in the service of Professor Koch, discoverer of the tubercle bacillus 14 years earlier. “He also passes through Vienna and Prague, being particularly interested in skin diseases and a subject that he will never abandon once more: hygiene. But, instead of a possible academic career, he returned to his native region and became a country doctor in Rogery and Courtil.continues Mr. Simeon.
The choice of Libramont instead of Arlon or Neufchâteau
In 1912, the government hygiene inspectorate for the province of Luxembourg was created, the main activity of which was to provide the disinfection service.
At its head, Doctor Pierre Lomry who has just obtained his bacteriology specialist diploma.
A building must be found to house this new provincial service.
The locality of Bovigny is too remote, the journeys long and sometimes difficult. We are looking elsewhere. Arlon makes two proposals: the military hospital and a location near the station, but nothing is suitable, writes Mr. Simeon once more.
“Neufchâteau offers his prison. Proposal refused. The burgomaster of Bertrix, Doctor Lifrange, is ready to cede, to the institute, a plot of one and a half hectares near the station. Only negative point: a later enlargement is not possible.
It is finally the proposal of the Municipality of Libramont which is retained: two hectares of land offered with the possibility of expansion. Other assets: central position, commitment of the municipality to build the access road.
Veterinary and food hygiene inspectors already live in Libramont“.
The institute, designed by the architect Lamy d’Arlon, was finally inaugurated on September 12, 1937.
It is dedicated, as the facade reminds us, “to the Luxembourgers who fell during the 14-18 war”.
Abissage, a forgotten custom
In another chapter, the Circle of History brochure, Étienne Jacques also discusses a forgotten practice, namely abissage, that is to say the operation of deliberately flooding the meadows in autumn and spring by diverting a river, to fertilize the soil with silt.
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Info: 061/22 38 87; louis.simeon@gmail.com and o_orianne@hotmail.com
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