Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger
Encyclopedia
Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger (October 28, 1830 - August 24, 1905) was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Halle. He studied medicine in Erlangen
and Halle, earning his doctorate in 1852. Subsequently he was a medical assistant to Peter Krukenberg
(1788–1865) at Halle, and from 1856 worked under Heinrich Müller
(1820–1864) at Würzburg
, where he learned microscopic pathology
and anatomy
of the eye and developed an interest in ophthalmology
. Later he moved to Berlin
, where he spent six years as an assistant to Albrecht von Graefe (1828–1870).
In 1868 he was appointed professor of ophthalmology at the University of Göttingen, and in 1871 succeeded Albrecht von Graefe as chair of ophthalmology at the Charité
-Berlin, a position he would hold for 28 years. Karl Schweigger was the son of scientist Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
(1779–1857), inventor of an early galvanometer
.
Schweigger is remembered for his work involving microscopic pathology of the eye, and made contributions in research of strabismus
. Beginning in 1882 he was co-editor of Hermann Knapp's
Archiv für Augenheilkunde. He was author of a textbook on eye diseases called Handbuch der speciellen Augenheilkunde that was later translated into English, and also published an influential book on ophthalmoscopy titled Vorlesungen über den Gebrauch des Augenspiegels.
Schweigger died in Berlin
.
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
and Halle, earning his doctorate in 1852. Subsequently he was a medical assistant to Peter Krukenberg
Peter Krukenberg
Peter Krukenberg was a German pathologist who was a native of Königslutter. He was son-in-law to anatomist Johann Christian Reil , and grandfather to pathologist Friedrich Ernst Krukenberg and surgeon Hermann Krukenberg .He studied at the Collegium Carolinum in Braunschweig and at the...
(1788–1865) at Halle, and from 1856 worked under Heinrich Müller
Heinrich Müller (physiologist)
Heinrich Müller was a German anatomist and professor at the University of Würzburg. He is best known for his work in comparative anatomy and his studies involving the eye.He was a native of Castell, Lower Franconia...
(1820–1864) at Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, where he learned microscopic 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....
and anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
of the eye and developed an interest in ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
. Later he moved to 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...
, where he spent six years as an assistant to Albrecht von Graefe (1828–1870).
In 1868 he was appointed professor of ophthalmology at the University of Göttingen, and in 1871 succeeded Albrecht von Graefe as chair of ophthalmology 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....
-Berlin, a position he would hold for 28 years. Karl Schweigger was the son of scientist Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger
Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger was a German chemist, physicist, and professor of mathematics. In 1811, he proposed the name "Chlorine" for the substance discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele and properly identified by Humphry Davy as an element in 1810. In 1820 he built the first...
(1779–1857), inventor of an early galvanometer
Galvanometer
A galvanometer is a type of ammeter: an instrument for detecting and measuring electric current. It is an analog electromechanical transducer that produces a rotary deflection of some type of pointer in response to electric current flowing through its coil in a magnetic field. .Galvanometers were...
.
Schweigger is remembered for his work involving microscopic pathology of the eye, and made contributions in research of strabismus
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles, which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space and preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely...
. Beginning in 1882 he was co-editor of Hermann Knapp's
Hermann Jakob Knapp
Hermann Jakob Knapp was a German-American ophthalmologist who was born in Dauborn, Nassau. He earned his medical degree from the University of Giessen in 1854. As a young physician he studied with Franciscus Cornelis Donders in Utrecht, William Bowman in London, Albrecht von Graefe in Berlin and...
Archiv für Augenheilkunde. He was author of a textbook on eye diseases called Handbuch der speciellen Augenheilkunde that was later translated into English, and also published an influential book on ophthalmoscopy titled Vorlesungen über den Gebrauch des Augenspiegels.
Schweigger died 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...
.
Associated eponym
- Schweigger's perimeter: Handheld instrument used to measure the extent of a visual fieldVisual fieldThe term visual field is sometimes used as a synonym to field of view, though they do not designate the same thing. The visual field is the "spatial array of visual sensations available to observation in introspectionist psychological experiments", while 'field of view' "refers to the physical...