Highlights in Asthmology : Springer : 9783642703188 : 3642703186 : 17 Nov 2011 : F. B. Michel Asthmology is the neologism I suggested for ideas which were acceptable at the begin­ the title of a book published in 1981 on ning of the 20th century, and in particular bronchial asthma [4,5]. to Pasteur's concept of "one cause, one ill­ ness", many syndromes like high blood Among a certain number of scientific pressure or asthma are the result of the publications on this subject, it is one of the overlapping of hereditary factors and ac­ few suggestions that I have the weakness to quired factors. This is one reason why asth­ feel somewhat proud of. In fact, this word has had the career I hoped it would and, ma is not really an illness in the real sense judging by the frequency with which it is of the word but, a clinical and functional respiratory syndrome [1]. used in both written and spoken language, it did answer a need. I had no intention of The innate, the "terrain", transmitted by sug