Medizin#

Medicine: In Austria the scientific study of medicine began to flourish after the founding of Vienna University in 1365 when the Padua-born physician, Galeazzo de Sancta Sophia, and his Austrian pupil, J. Aygel, carried out the first pioneering dissections of human bodies. Paracelsus, the reformer of classical medicine, also had strong ties to Austria. H. Guarinoni is regarded as the pioneer of health care and pastoral medicine in the Baroque Age. The personal physician of Empress Maria Theresia, P. Sorbait, distinguished himself by his efforts during the plague epidemic and during the Turkish siege of Vienna. Van Swieten, another well-known physician, prepared the ground for the founding of the Vienna School of Medicine, which made Austrian achievements in the field of medicine renowned all over the globe.

In 1820 a College of Medicine and Surgery was set up at Graz, which constituted the predecessor of the medical faculty founded at Graz University in 1863. The heads of the Department of Anatomy were such outstanding physicians as J. Planner, E. Zuckerkandl, M. Holl (who was one of the first to teach the anatomy of the body surface; Holl´s depression is named after him) and A. Hafferl; heads of the Department of Pathology were R. Heschl, H. Kundrat, H. Eppinger, H. Albrecht, H. Beitzke (reformed research and teaching methods from 1922) and T. Konschegg. In 1863 A. Rollett became professor of physiology and histology at Graz University. He introduced exact empirical methods in the field of medical research. Internal medicine was taught by M. Koerner, O. Rembold, F. Kraus, H. Lorenz etc. Some of the most notable physicians of that time, however, were to be found in the field of surgery, e.g. K. v. Rzehaczek (from 1851) (one of the pioneers of the concept of clinical indications), A. Woelfler, K. Nicoladoni, V. Hacker, H. Haberer, P. Walzel-Wiesentreu (one of the most outstanding representatives of the Graz School of Medicine). K. v. Rokitansky, the son of the well-known anatomist Rokitansky, and A. v. Rosthorn lectured at the Teaching Hospital Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. From 1903 important progress was made in endocrinological research by E. Knauer who was one of the first to test a transplantation of ovaries on animals. Well-known dermatologists were E. Lipp, A. Jarisch, R. Matzenauer (who studied the transmission of congenital syphilis from mother to unborn child) etc. In 1874 R. Krafft-Ebing was the first to hold a chair of psychiatry; in the years to follow J. Wagner-Jauregg, G. Anton (invented the corpuscullosum and cisternal punctures), F. Hartmann, O. Kauders and J. Reisch succeeded to this chair. Heads of the Department of Ophthalmology, which has become famous for its successes in the field of ophthalmic surgery, were K. Blodig, I. Schnabel (research on the glaucoma), M. Borysiekiewicz, F. Dimmer and M. Salzmann. In 1872 K. Emele obtained the chair of laryngology; in 1875 J. Kessel became professor of otology. These two subjects were merged into a single discipline, called otolaryngology, by J. Habermann, who discovered occupationally-induced hardness of hearing. Under G. Hofer this department became one of the best-equipped in Europe. V. Ebner-Rofenstein, O. Drasch, H. Rabl and Carla Zawisch worked at the Department of Histology and Embryology. A. Tachamer, T. Escherisch (the founder of the Austrian neonatal and child welfare system), M. Pfaundler, J. Langer, F. Hamburger (developed a form of the tuberculin test), A. Reuss, H. Koch and W. Lorenz worked at the Paedriatic Department. V. Tanzer held the first chair of dentistry; he was joined by A. Bleichsteiner, who set up his own department in 1902, F. and R. Trauner. The Department of Medical Chemistry achieved a world-wide reputation through the work of F. Pregl. Professors of hygiene were Max Gruber, W. Prausnitz (Atlas und Lehrbuch der Hygiene, 1903; greatly improved the treatment and after-care given to tuberculosis patients), H. Reichel, W. Schmied-Lange and H. M. Jettmar. Notable pharmacologists were F. Clar (improved the professional organization of physicians), K. v. Schroff, J. Moeller, O. Loewi (Nobel prize), W. Blume and H. Haeusler. Founded in 1912, the Graz Provincial Hospital is considered one of the most modern hospitals in Europe. In 1955 the first Austrian Clinic of Radiology was opened at Graz. In 1963 the first team of Austrian physicians that had been trained to use a heart-lung machine started working at Graz. V. Fossel greatly influenced the development of medicine, particularly in the field of folk medicine.

Many scientists and professors of medicine started their career at Innsbruck University. Many of them went from there to Graz and then to Vienna. Gaudenz v. Sala, who became the first professor of medicine at Innsbruck University, held his introductory lecture in 1674. In the course of time new chairs and training centres were introduced, e.g. a chair of surgery in 1735 (College of Medicine and Surgery, 1783), a chair of obstetrics in 1754, as well as a training centre for midwives in 1763. In 1869 a medical faculty in the modern sense of the term was founded, which provided complete training in medicine at the University Training Hospital, opened in 1888. In the course of time several new medical units were added to the faculty, e.g. the Department of Psychiatry and Neurology in 1894, the Department of Dermatology and Syphilis (1894), the Department of Laryngology and Otology (1894), the Paediatric Department (1898), the Department of Orthopaedics (1914-1915), a Department of Radiology (1918-1919), as well as a number of new operation theatres (1920). In 1846 K. v. Dantscher became the first to hold a chair of anatomy; successors to this chair were M. Holl (the originator of modern anatomy at Innsbruck University), W. Roux, F. Hochstetter, R. Fick, F. Sieglbauer (Lehrbuch der normalen Anatomie des Menschen, 1927) and G. Sauser. From 1878 M. Dietl, M. Loewit (significant discoveries in the field of haematological research), H. Pfeiffer and the endocrinologist G. Bayer (Klein. Lehrbuch der Inkretologie, 1927; Nebennieren, 1929) taught experimental pathology (department founded in 1887). From 1869 F. Schott, G. Pommer (whose discoveries became the centre-piece of the Innsbruck Medical Faculty), E. v. Hibler ("Untersuchungen ueber die pathogenen Anaèroben", 1908, one of the fundamental works in this field), F. Werdt, B. Gruber and F. J. Lang (works on the pathology of bones, on blood diseases and tissue cultures) were professors of pathological anatomy. From 1875 physiology was taught by M. v. Vintschgau, E. T. Bruecke and F. Scheminzky. In 1873 G. Oellacher founded the Department of Histology and Embryology, at which L. Kerschner (works on biogenesis), H. Rabl, S. Schumacher, (whose textbook on histology is still popular with both professors and students) and J. Mathis started to work in 1903. The subject of internal medicine was taught by J. Laschan v. Solstein, M. Koerner (champion of "hydraulic diagnosis"), N. Ortner, R. Schmidt and A. Steyrer (who made his department the centre of the medical faculty). E. Albert firmly advocated and taught antiseptic treatment in surgery, whereas K. Nicoladioni concentrated on orthopaedic surgery and V. Hacker developed endoscopic techniques. H. Schloffer introduced asepsis while H. Haberer greatly improved gastro-intestinal surgery. Headed by E. Ranzi, the Innsbruck Department of Surgery gained a worldwide reputation. Upon Ranzi´s death B. Breitner continued his work. G. Anton was the first to head the newly established Department of Psychiatry and Neurology; he was succeeded by C. Mayer (after whom the finger-thumb reflex is named), H. Scharfetter and H. Urban. In 1847 W. Lange opened a gynaecological ward which was not integrated into the Innsbruck Medical Faculty until 1869. F. Schauta started his career at the Department of Gynaecology where E. Ehrendorfer introduced the teachings of the Vienna gynaecologist, T. Billroth; other notable professors in this field were P. Mathes, H. Eymer, H. Zacherl, J. Amreich, T. Antoine and S. Tapfer. Ophthalmology was taught by W. Czermak (whose textbook "Die augenaerztlichen Operationen" is still used today) and F. Dimmer. In 1893 the chairs of otolaryngology were held by G. Juffinger, H. Herzog, W. Krainz (an expert in the fields of histology and bone diseases) and L. Hoerbst. E. Lang founded the Department of Dermatology and consequently became its first head in 1873; he was succeeded by A. Jarisch, J. H. Rille ("Die Schaedigung der Haut durch Berufs- und gewerbl. Arbeit", 3 vols., 1922-1926), L. Merk ("Die Hauterscheinungen der Pellagra", 1909), W. Kerl, L. Kumer (in cooperation with Kerl, Kumer introduced discoveries made by dermatologists of the Vienna Medical Faculty at Innsbruck) and J. Konrad. Forensic medicine was taught at the Department of Hygiene. In 1869 E. v. Hofmann founded a forensic department in its own right (Hofmann´s textbook was reprinted by A. Haberda in 1927); Hofmann was succeeded in his function as head of this department by J. Kratter, P. Dittrich (editor of a four-volume textbook), C. Ipsen (made revolutionary discoveries in the field of forensic toxicology) and K. Meixner. In 1897 A. Lode became the head of the Department of Hygiene; he was succeeded by F. Weigmann und W. Hauptmann. In 1836 E. A. Michael became the first professor of applied medical chemistry at Innsbruck; he was joined in this discipline by R. Maly, O. Senhofer, W. F. Loebisch, A. Windaus of Freiburg (Nobel prize winner), F. Pregl (Nobel prize winner) and the German H. Fischer (Nobel prize winner, managed to prove that haematoidin was identical with bilirubin while he was working at the Innsbruck Medical Faculty). The chairs at the Department of Pharmacology were held by A. Tschurtschenthaler, J. Moeller, J. Nevinny and A. Jarisch. The granting of a professorship to Johann Loos was crucial for the establishment of a Paediatric Department in 1896. In 1905 one of the first European Departments of Dentistry was founded by B. Mayrhofer (Lehrbuch der Zahnkrankheiten, 1912; editor of a journal of dentistry and oral surgery ("Zeitschrift fuer Mund- und Kieferchirurgie") from 1914, editor of "Die Ergebnisse der gesamten Zahnheilkunde" from 1910) at Innsbruck University. In the course of time some teaching hospital departments were significantly enlarged (Surgery in 1981, Neurology and Gynaecology in 1987). A whole range of outstanding professors made the Innsbruck Medical Faculty renowned throughout the world (B. Breitner and R. Margreiter, surgery; Franz Gschnitzer, thorax surgery; Anton Hittmair, haematology; Siegfried Tapfer, gynaecology; Paul Wiflingseder and Heribert Hussl, plastic surgery; Herbert Braunsteiner, internal medicine; Gustav Sauser, anatomy and histology; Werner Platzer, anatomy; Wolfgang Baumgartner, surgical geriatrics).

In the provinces which did not have a university, senior physicians were responsible for training their young colleagues at provincial and district hospitals. Until 1873 Colleges of Medicine and Surgery at which physicians were trained existed at Linz, Klagenfurt and Innsbruck. The Upper Austrian physician, A. Brenner was the originator of modern surgery and founder of the Linz Voluntary Ambulance Service, as well as a champion of physical exercise. Since the 17th century the province of Salzburg has had a medical service and from 1803 to 1805 a medical faculty existed at the old Salzburg University. However, this faculty was replaced by a College of Medicine and Surgery, the surgical ward of which gained a particularly high reputation. R. v. Karajan paved the way for modern surgery to be accepted at Salzburg while C. Varnschein introduced an ambulance service in the province. At Klagenfurt C. v. Vest (b. 1720) founded numerous institutions of hygiene. Notable Carinthian physicians were O. Purtscher, who decisively contributed to the high reputation of the provincial hospital´s ophthalmic ward, and the outstanding physiologist and botanist, J. v. Burger (d. 1879), who brought about the building of a new mental hospital. In the Tirol J. Ennemoser taught animal magnetism or mesmerism, as well as the basic principle of biogenetics (half a century before this principle was officially introduced by Haeckel) and tried hard to make psychiatry a university subject. Thanks to him lunatic asylums are today referred to as mental hospitals. The most outstanding Vorarlbergian physician was Josef Lipburger (d. 1923), a pupil of Nicoladoni and a notable surgeon. T. Scherrer (b. 1878) introduced an ambulance service in Vorarlberg.

F. Strohmayr ("Physikal.-Medizin. Topographie der Kreisstadt St. Poelten"), some members of the Managetta Family, H. Sauer (surgeon, worked at Krems) and W. Winternitz (balneologist) ranked with the most outstanding Lower Austrian physicians. The most notable physicians of Burgenland were J. Hyrtl, L. Batthyány-Strattmann (ophthalmologist) and M. Benedikt (neurologist).

Medical services became well organized soon after their introduction ( Health Care), a fact that was particularly due to the adoption of the Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz, which introduced reforms in the field of Health Insurance. In 1867 the Austrian Society of the Red Cross was founded, which was later extended by the Youth Red Cross, Austrian. In 1870 the Sanitaetsrat, Oberster was founded. Balneology has always played a significant role in Austria. ( Spas). During the 20th century great attention has been paid to specific problems of public health ( Blood Donation, Vaccinations, Cancer Research etc. ). The Austrian Hospitals have been extremely active and successful in medical research. The Austrian physicians have their own medical association, the ( Austrian Medical Associations).

Literature#