Theodor Billroth | |
---|---|
Born |
Christian Albert Theodor Billroth 26 April 1829 Bergen auf Rügen, Kingdom of Prussia |
Died | 6 February 1894 Opatija, Austria-Hungary |
(aged 64)
Education | University of Greifswald, University of Göttingen, University of Berlin |
Known for |
Being the founding father of modern abdominal surgery Applying scientific methods to musicality |
Medical career | |
Profession | Surgeon |
Institutions | Surgical hospital and clinic, Zurich University of Zurich Allgemeine Krankenhaus University of Vienna |
Specialism | Abdominal surgery |
Being the founding father of modern abdominal surgery
Christian Albert Theodor Billroth (26 April 1829 – 6 February 1894) was a Prussian-born Austrian surgeon and amateur musician.
As a surgeon, he is generally regarded as the founding father of modern abdominal surgery. As a musician, he was a close friend and confidant of Johannes Brahms, a leading patron of the Viennese musical scene, and one of the first to attempt a scientific analysis of musicality.
Billroth was born at Bergen auf Rügen in the Kingdom of Prussia. He went to school in Greifswald. He was an indifferent student, and spent more time practicing piano than studying. Torn between a career as a musician or as a physician, he acceded to his mother's wishes and enrolled himself at the University of Greifswald to study medicine. He then followed his professor, Wilhelm Baum, to the University of Göttingen, and completed his medical doctorate at the University of Berlin. Along with Rudolph Wagner (1805–1864) and Georg Meissner (1829–1905), Billroth went to Trieste to study the torpedo fish.
Billroth worked as a doctor from 1853–1860 at the Charité in Berlin. In Berlin he was also apprenticed to Carl Langenbuch. From 1860–1867 he was Professor at the University of Zurich and director of the surgical hospital and clinic in Zurich. While in Zurich, Billroth published his classic textbook Die allgemeine chirurgische Pathologie und Therapie (General Surgical Pathology and Therapy) (1863). At the same time he introduced the concept of audits, publishing all results, good and bad, which automatically resulted in honest discussion on morbidity, mortality, and techniques – with resultant improvements in patient selection. He was appointed professor of surgery at the University of Vienna in 1867 and practiced surgery as chief of the Second Surgical Clinic at the Allgemeine Krankenhaus (Vienna General Hospital).