Carl Mayrhofer
Encyclopedia
Carl Mayrhofer was physician conducting work on the role of germs in childbed fever
.
In 1862 he was appointed second assistant to professor Carl Braun in the maternity clinic at Vienna General Hospital
. He was encouraged by Braun to study airborne organisms as the source of childbed fever. As such, Mayrhofer was asked to support the position of Braun in his extremely bitter feud with Ignaz Semmelweis
, who claimed that the disease was caused by contaminated hands, in effect blaming doctors for the horrific mortality rates
at the time (i.e. that it was an iatrogenic disease). Mayrhofer referred to these organisms as vibrion
s. At first, Mayrhofer's work supported Braun's views and the results were published. In a 1865 publication, however, Mayrhofer concluded that infection was usually the result of contaminated hands thus rejecting Braun's concept and supporting Ignaz Semmelweis
' rivalling theory. Openly disagreeing with his superior, his fate was sealed. Mayrhofer's work was rejected and he soon left the clinic. He entered into private practice. He was appointed privatdozent
of obstetrics in 1870, and a few years later, adjunct professor within the same field.
Puerperal fever
Puerperal fever or childbed fever, is a bacterial infection contracted by women during childbirth or miscarriage. It can develop into puerperal sepsis, which is a serious form of septicaemia. If untreated, it is often fatal....
.
In 1862 he was appointed second assistant to professor Carl Braun in the maternity clinic at Vienna General Hospital
Vienna General Hospital
The Vienna General Hospital is the University medical center of the city of Vienna, Austria. The AKH is the largest hospital of Austria and Europe, the second largest hospital in the world, and at 85-m high is one of the tallest hospital buildings in the world...
. He was encouraged by Braun to study airborne organisms as the source of childbed fever. As such, Mayrhofer was asked to support the position of Braun in his extremely bitter feud with Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "savior of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics...
, who claimed that the disease was caused by contaminated hands, in effect blaming doctors for the horrific mortality rates
Historical mortality rates of puerperal fever
Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis worked at the Vienna General Hospital's maternity clinic on a 3-year contract from 1846-1849. There, as elsewhere in European and North American hospitals, puerperal fever, or childbed fever, was rampant, sometimes climbing to 40 percent of admitted patients...
at the time (i.e. that it was an iatrogenic disease). Mayrhofer referred to these organisms as vibrion
Vibrion
Vibrion is an antiquated term for microorganisms, especially a pathogenic ones; see Germ theory of disease. The term may specifically refer to motile microorganisms....
s. At first, Mayrhofer's work supported Braun's views and the results were published. In a 1865 publication, however, Mayrhofer concluded that infection was usually the result of contaminated hands thus rejecting Braun's concept and supporting Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Semmelweis
Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was a Hungarian physician now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "savior of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics...
' rivalling theory. Openly disagreeing with his superior, his fate was sealed. Mayrhofer's work was rejected and he soon left the clinic. He entered into private practice. He was appointed privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
of obstetrics in 1870, and a few years later, adjunct professor within the same field.