Carl Wigand Maximilian Jacobi
Encyclopedia
Carl Wigand Maximilian Jacobi (April 10, 1775 – May 18, 1858) was a German psychiatrist
who was a native of Düsseldorf
. He was the son of philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
(1743–1819).
He was a student at the Universities of Jena, Göttingen, Erfurt
, and Edinburgh
, and for a period of time worked as a hospital aide in London
. Later he became director of a mental hospital at Salzburg
, and beginning in 1816 was a Prussian Medizinalrat (medical officer). In 1825 he was the first director at the Siegburg
lunatic asylum, located north of Bonn
. One of his better known assistants at Siegburg was Bernhard von Gudden
(1824–1886).
Jacobi was a prominent member of the somatic school
of psychiatry in Germany, believing that mental disorders were largely due to organic factors. His views on psychiatry were in direct contrast to those of Leipzig
professor Johann Christian August Heinroth
(1773–1843), a contemporary of Jacobi, who based psychiatry from a "spiritualistic" standpoint. Jacobi was influenced by the work of Philippe Pinel
(1745–1826) and William Tuke
(1732–1822) regarding a "non-restraint policy" for patients, and tried to introduce this reform in Germany.
He was the author of several treatises concerning treatment of the mentallly ill, and contributed numerous articles to the journal Allgemeine Zeitschrift fur Psychiatrie. Also with Christian Friedrich Nasse
(1778–1851), he was co-founder of Zeitschrift für Heilung und Beurtheilung krankhafter Seelenstörungen, a journal dealing with the analysis and treatment of mental disorders.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was a native of Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
. He was the son of philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi
Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi was an influential German philosopher, literary figure, socialite and the younger brother of poet Johann Georg Jacobi...
(1743–1819).
He was a student at the Universities of Jena, Göttingen, Erfurt
University of Erfurt
The University of Erfurt is a public university located in Erfurt, Germany. Originally founded in 1379, the university was closed in 1816 for the next 177 years...
, and Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and for a period of time worked as a hospital aide in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Later he became director of a mental hospital at Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, and beginning in 1816 was a Prussian Medizinalrat (medical officer). In 1825 he was the first director at the Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
lunatic asylum, located north of Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. One of his better known assistants at Siegburg was Bernhard von Gudden
Bernhard von Gudden
Johann Bernhard Aloys von Gudden was a German neuroanatomist and psychiatrist born in Kleve.In 1848 he earned his doctorate from the University of Halle, and became an intern at the asylum in Siegburg under Carl Wigand Maximilian Jacobi...
(1824–1886).
Jacobi was a prominent member of the somatic school
Somatic school
The somatic school was a group of nineteenth century German psychiatrists, including Carl Jacobi, Christian Friedrich Nasse and Carl Friedrich Flemming, who taught that insanity is a symptom of biological diseases located outside the brain, particularly diseases of the abdominal and thoracic...
of psychiatry in Germany, believing that mental disorders were largely due to organic factors. His views on psychiatry were in direct contrast to those of 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...
professor Johann Christian August Heinroth
Johann Christian August Heinroth
Johann Christian August Heinroth was a German physician born in Leipzig.He initially studied medicine in Leipzig, later continuing his education in Vienna under Johann Peter Frank . After briefly studying theology in Erlangen, he returned to Leipzig, where in 1805 he obtained his medical doctorate...
(1773–1843), a contemporary of Jacobi, who based psychiatry from a "spiritualistic" standpoint. Jacobi was influenced by the work of Philippe Pinel
Philippe Pinel
Philippe Pinel was a French physician who was instrumental in the development of a more humane psychological approach to the custody and care of psychiatric patients, referred to today as moral therapy...
(1745–1826) and William Tuke
William Tuke
William Tuke was an English businessman, philanthropist and Quaker. He was instrumental in the development of more humane methods in the custody and care of people with mental disorders, an approach that came to be known as moral treatment.-Career:Tuke was born in York to a leading Quaker family...
(1732–1822) regarding a "non-restraint policy" for patients, and tried to introduce this reform in Germany.
He was the author of several treatises concerning treatment of the mentallly ill, and contributed numerous articles to the journal Allgemeine Zeitschrift fur Psychiatrie. Also with Christian Friedrich Nasse
Christian Friedrich Nasse
Christian Friedrich Nasse was a German psychiatrist who was born in Bielefeld. He studied medicine at the University of Halle under physiologist Johann Christian Reil , and following graduation returned to Bielefeld as a general practitioner and later director of a hospital for the poor...
(1778–1851), he was co-founder of Zeitschrift für Heilung und Beurtheilung krankhafter Seelenstörungen, a journal dealing with the analysis and treatment of mental disorders.