Friedrich Kraus
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Kraus was a Jewish Austrian
internist. He is remembered for his achievements in the field of electrocardiography and his work in colloid chemistry.
in Prague
, where he subsequently worked as an assistant at Otto Kahler
's medical clinic. In 1890 he obtained his habilitation, and not long afterwards was appointed director of the Rudolph-Spital in Vienna
. In 1894 he relocated to the University of Graz
as a full professor, and in 1902 replaced Carl Gerhardt
(1833-1902) as director of the second medical clinic at the Charité
Hospital in Berlin
. At Berlin, his assistants included Theodor Brugsch
and Rahel Hirsch
.
(1874-1955), he made important contributions in the field of electrocardiology, and in 1910 published the monograph
, Das Elektrokardiogramm des gesunden und kranken Menschen (The Electrocardiogram
of the Healthy and Ill Individual).
Kraus researched the relationship of the nervous system
's functional nature with mechanistic concepts. He demonstrated that living matter contained colloid
s and mineral salts, which when dissolved in a solution are electrolytes. He postulated that a type of bio-electrical system is present within the body which acted like a relay mechanism storing electrical charge (energy) and recharges (action). He explained this proposition in his book Allgemeine und spezielle Pathologie der Person (General and Special Pathology of the Individual). Kraus' theory on bio-electrics is considered to be a forerunner to psychologist
Wilhelm Reich
's work with biophysics
and body psychotherapy
(vegetotherapy
).
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
internist. He is remembered for his achievements in the field of electrocardiography and his work in colloid chemistry.
Academic career
He studied medicine at the German UniversityCharles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he subsequently worked as an assistant at Otto Kahler
Otto Kahler
Otto Kahler was an Austrian physician. Born and trained in Prague, he is best known for describing multiple myeloma, a hematological malignancy, which is called "Kahler's disease" in his honor in several countries...
's medical clinic. In 1890 he obtained his habilitation, and not long afterwards was appointed director of the Rudolph-Spital in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1894 he relocated to the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
as a full professor, and in 1902 replaced Carl Gerhardt
Carl Jakob Adolf Christian Gerhardt
Carl Jakob Adolf Christian Gerhardt ; was a German internist born in Speyer....
(1833-1902) as director of the second medical clinic at the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
Hospital in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. At Berlin, his assistants included Theodor Brugsch
Theodor Brugsch
Theodor Brugsch was a German internist born in Graz. He became an associate professor in 1910, and practiced medicine at the Charité Hospital in Berlin prior to, and after World War I. In 1917-19 he served with distinction as a physician with the 9th Army in Romania.From 1927 to 1935 he was a...
and Rahel Hirsch
Rahel Hirsch
Rahel Hirsch was a German doctor and professor at Charité. It was 1913, she became the first woman in the Kingdom of Prussia to be appointed as a professor in medicine.-Biography:...
.
Scientific investigations
Kraus is credited for introducing electrocardiography and functional diagnostics into German medicine. With his assistant, Georg Friedrich NicolaiGeorg Friedrich Nicolai
Georg Friedrich Nicolai was a German physiologist who studied at the University of Berlin, and later practiced medicine at the Charité in Berlin...
(1874-1955), he made important contributions in the field of electrocardiology, and in 1910 published the monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
, Das Elektrokardiogramm des gesunden und kranken Menschen (The Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiography is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body...
of the Healthy and Ill Individual).
Kraus researched the relationship of the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
's functional nature with mechanistic concepts. He demonstrated that living matter contained colloid
Colloid
A colloid is a substance microscopically dispersed evenly throughout another substance.A colloidal system consists of two separate phases: a dispersed phase and a continuous phase . A colloidal system may be solid, liquid, or gaseous.Many familiar substances are colloids, as shown in the chart below...
s and mineral salts, which when dissolved in a solution are electrolytes. He postulated that a type of bio-electrical system is present within the body which acted like a relay mechanism storing electrical charge (energy) and recharges (action). He explained this proposition in his book Allgemeine und spezielle Pathologie der Person (General and Special Pathology of the Individual). Kraus' theory on bio-electrics is considered to be a forerunner to psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich
Wilhelm Reich was an Austrian-American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, known as one of the most radical figures in the history of psychiatry...
's work with biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
and body psychotherapy
Body Psychotherapy
Body psychotherapy, also referred to as body-oriented psychotherapy and somatic psychology, is a significant branch of psychotherapy, with origins in the work of Pierre Janet, Sigmund Freud and particularly Wilhelm Reich....
(vegetotherapy
Vegetotherapy
Vegetotherapy is a form of Reichian psychotherapy that involves the physical manifestations of emotions. The basic and founding text of vegetotherapy is Wilhelm Reich's Psychischer Kontakt und vegetative Stroemung , later included in the enlarged edition of Reich's Character Analysis .- Practice...
).
Further reading
- NCBI Biography of Friedrich Kraus
- http://www.jackflannel.org/reich2.html A Brief History of the Life and Works of Wilhelm Reich: Part Two
- Jewish Encyclopedia