Johann Nepomuk von Nussbaum
Encyclopedia
Johann Nepomuk von Nussbaum (September 2, 1829 - October 31, 1890) was a German surgeon
who was a native of Munich
.
In 1853 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Munich, where he studied under Karl Thiersch
(1822-1895) and Franz Christoph von Rothmund (1801-1891). In the following years he continued his surgical studies with Auguste Nélaton
(1807-1873), Charles Chassaignac
(1805-79) and Jules Maisonneuve
(1809-1897) in Paris
, and under Bernhard von Langenbeck
(1810-1887) in Berlin
. During the early 1870s he travelled to England, where he learned techniques of pelvic surgery under Thomas Spencer Wells
(1818-1897). From 1860 until 1890 Nussbaum was a professor of surgery at the University of Munich. During the Franco-Prussian War
he served as a medical consultant for Bavaria
n troops.
Nussbaum is remembered for the development of innovative surgical operations, and the introduction of Lister
's antiseptic
practices into surgery at Munich
. Prior to antisepsis at Munich, there was an extremely high rate of death due to operative infection
. Nussbaum's popular book on antiseptic treatment of wounds called Leitfaden zur antiseptischen Wundbehandlung was later translated into several languages. He also published important treatises on eye surgery
, ovariotomy and bone transplantation
. The eponymous Nussbaum's bracelet is named after him, which is a device designed for use with writer's cramp
. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof
in Munich.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who was a native of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
In 1853 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Munich, where he studied under Karl Thiersch
Karl Thiersch
Karl Thiersch, also spelled Carl Thiersch , was a German surgeon born in Munich. His father was educationist Friedrich Thiersch, his father-in-law was renowned chemist Justus von Liebig...
(1822-1895) and Franz Christoph von Rothmund (1801-1891). In the following years he continued his surgical studies with Auguste Nélaton
Auguste Nélaton
Auguste Nélaton was a French physician and surgeon. Born at Paris, he began studying medicine in 1828 and was graduated as an M.D. in 1836 with a thesis on the effects of tuberculosis on the bones. Three years later, he became a professor at the Hôpital St. Louis with a habilitation on breast tumors...
(1807-1873), Charles Chassaignac
Charles Marie Edouard Chassaignac
Charles Marie Edouard Chassaignac was a French physician. He was born in Nantes and in 1835 became prosecutor and professor at the university and physician at the central bureau of the hospitals of Paris...
(1805-79) and Jules Maisonneuve
Jules Germain François Maisonneuve
Jules Germain François Maisonneuve was a French surgeon and student of Guillaume Dupuytren. Maisonneuve is notable as the first surgeon to explain the role of external rotation in the production of ankle fractures. The eponymously named Maisonneuve fracture describes a specific fibular...
(1809-1897) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and under Bernhard von Langenbeck
Bernhard von Langenbeck
Bernhard Rudolf Konrad von Langenbeck was a German surgeon known as the developer of Langenbeck's amputation and founder of Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery....
(1810-1887) 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...
. During the early 1870s he travelled to England, where he learned techniques of pelvic surgery under Thomas Spencer Wells
Thomas Spencer Wells
Sir Thomas Spencer Wells, 1st Baronet was surgeon to Queen Victoria, a medical professor and president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.-Early life:...
(1818-1897). From 1860 until 1890 Nussbaum was a professor of surgery at the University of Munich. During the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
he served as a medical consultant for Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n troops.
Nussbaum is remembered for the development of innovative surgical operations, and the introduction of Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
's antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
practices into surgery at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Prior to antisepsis at Munich, there was an extremely high rate of death due to operative infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
. Nussbaum's popular book on antiseptic treatment of wounds called Leitfaden zur antiseptischen Wundbehandlung was later translated into several languages. He also published important treatises on eye surgery
Eye surgery
Eye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.-Preparation and precautions:...
, ovariotomy and bone transplantation
Bone grafting
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone in order to repair bone fractures that are extremely complex, pose a significant health risk to the patient, or fail to heal properly....
. The eponymous Nussbaum's bracelet is named after him, which is a device designed for use with writer's cramp
Writer's cramp
Writer's cramp, also called mogigraphia and scrivener's palsy, causes a cramp or spasm affecting certain muscles of the hand and/or fingers. Writer's cramp is a task-specific focal dystonia of the hand...
. He is buried in the Alter Südfriedhof
Alter Südfriedhof
The Alter Südfriedhof is a cemetery in Munich, Germany. It was founded by Duke Albrecht V as a plague cemetery in 1563 about half a kilometer south of the Sendlinger Gate between Thalkirchner and Pestalozzistraße.-History:...
in Munich.