Alfred Bielschowsky
Encyclopedia
Alfred Bielschowsky was a German ophthalmologist. His specialty was physiology
and pathology
of the eye, particularly in regards to research of eye movement, space perception and diagnosis of oculomotor anomalies.
Bielschowsky was born in Namslau (Namysłów), Prussian Silesia. After attending the Königliches Katholisches Gymnasium of Glatz (Kłodzko), he studied medicine at the University of Breslau (Wrocław) and at the University of Heidelberg. At Heidelberg he was a student of ophthalmologist Theodor Leber
. Afterwards he studied medicine at the University of Berlin
, attending the lectures of Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger
and graduating in 1893. He received his medical license in Leipzig
on March 1 of the same year.
Bielschowsky subsequently studied and worked in the eye clinic at the University of Leipzig
, receiving his habilitation in 1900 and becoming head physician in 1906. While at Leipzig, he studied under Ewald Hering
. In 1912 Bielschowsky attained the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Marburg.
During World War I
, Bielschowsky established a hospital ward and Braille
instruction for treatment of blinded soldiers. With Carl Strehl
(1886-1971), he founded the Verein blinder Akademiker Deutschlands (Association of Blinded Academics of Germany). For his war-time contributions, he was awarded the Iron Cross
for War Aid from Paul von Hindenburg
and honored with the title of Geheimer Medizinalrat (Privy Medical Counselor) by Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
In 1923 Bielschowsky was appointed chair at Breslau. While at Breslau, Bielschowsky published Die Lähmungen der Augenmuskeln, an influential work concerning eye muscle disturbances.
Because of his Jewish heritage and Nazi persecution
, Bielschowsky was fired from his position in 1934, and later emigrated to the United States in 1936. Here he became head of the Dartmouth Eye Institute at Dartmouth College
in Hanover, New Hampshire
. However, he died suddenly in 1940.
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
of the eye, particularly in regards to research of eye movement, space perception and diagnosis of oculomotor anomalies.
Bielschowsky was born in Namslau (Namysłów), Prussian Silesia. After attending the Königliches Katholisches Gymnasium of Glatz (Kłodzko), he studied medicine at the University of Breslau (Wrocław) and at the University of Heidelberg. At Heidelberg he was a student of ophthalmologist Theodor Leber
Theodor Leber
Theodor Karl Gustav von Leber was a German ophthalmologist from Karlsruhe.Leber was a student of Hermann von Helmholtz in Heidelberg, where he received his doctorate in 1862...
. Afterwards he studied medicine at the University of Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
, attending the lectures of Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger
Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger
Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Halle. He studied medicine in Erlangen and Halle, earning his doctorate in 1852...
and graduating in 1893. He received his medical license in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
on March 1 of the same year.
Bielschowsky subsequently studied and worked in the eye clinic at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, receiving his habilitation in 1900 and becoming head physician in 1906. While at Leipzig, he studied under Ewald Hering
Ewald Hering
Karl Ewald Konstantin Hering was a German physiologist who did much research into color vision and spatial perception...
. In 1912 Bielschowsky attained the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Marburg.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Bielschowsky established a hospital ward and Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
instruction for treatment of blinded soldiers. With Carl Strehl
Carl Strehl
Carl Strehl was a German educator born in Berlin.In December 1907, Strehl lost his eyesight while working in a chemical factory in New York. Later, after returning to Europe, he commenced with studies in Hamburg...
(1886-1971), he founded the Verein blinder Akademiker Deutschlands (Association of Blinded Academics of Germany). For his war-time contributions, he was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
for War Aid from Paul von Hindenburg
Paul von Hindenburg
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg , known universally as Paul von Hindenburg was a Prussian-German field marshal, statesman, and politician, and served as the second President of Germany from 1925 to 1934....
and honored with the title of Geheimer Medizinalrat (Privy Medical Counselor) by Wilhelm II, German Emperor.
In 1923 Bielschowsky was appointed chair at Breslau. While at Breslau, Bielschowsky published Die Lähmungen der Augenmuskeln, an influential work concerning eye muscle disturbances.
Because of his Jewish heritage and Nazi persecution
Racial policy of Nazi Germany
The racial policy of Nazi Germany was a set of policies and laws implemented by Nazi Germany, asserting the superiority of the "Aryan race", and based on a specific racist doctrine which claimed scientific legitimacy...
, Bielschowsky was fired from his position in 1934, and later emigrated to the United States in 1936. Here he became head of the Dartmouth Eye Institute at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
. However, he died suddenly in 1940.
Associated eponym
- Bielschowsky's head tilt testBielschowsky's head tilt testBielschowsky's head tilt test is a medical test to detect damage to the IVth cranial nerve leading to a palsy of the superior oblique muscle of the eye....
: A test for palsyPalsyIn medicine, palsy is the paralysis of a body part, often accompanied by loss of sensation and by uncontrolled body movements, such as shaking. Medical conditions involving palsy include cerebral palsy , brachial palsy , and Bell's palsy ....
of the superior oblique muscleSuperior oblique muscleFor the abdominal muscle see: Abdominal external oblique muscleThe superior oblique muscle, or obliquus oculi superior, is a fusiform muscle originating in the upper, medial side of the orbit which abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye...
caused by damage to cranial nerve IV (trochlear nerveTrochlear nerveThe trochlear nerve is a motor nerve that innervates a single muscle: the superior oblique muscle of the eye....
).