Maximilian Joseph von Chelius
Encyclopedia
Maximilian Joseph von Chelius (January 16, 1794 – August 17, 1876) was a German surgeon
and ophthalmologist who was born in Mannheim
. He received his medical doctorate in 1812 at the University of Heidelberg, and afterwards was a civilian and military physician in Munich
, and was an army surgeon in the last phases of the Napoleonic Wars
(1814-15). In 1818 he returned to Heidelberg
where he remained for the remainder of his career.
Chelius was a prime catalyst in the creation of the medical faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and is considered the founder of the surgical tradition at the facility. He was a professor at Heidelberg from 1818 until 1864, and was a specialist in ophthalmic surgery. One of his better-known patients was composer
Frédéric Chopin
, whom Chelius treated for sepsis
of the finger. Afterwards, a grateful Chopin gave a private concert in Chelius' home. Today, the building where Chelius lived from 1830 until 1876 is the site of the Kurpfälzisches Museum
in Heidelberg.
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...
and ophthalmologist who was born in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
. He received his medical doctorate in 1812 at the University of Heidelberg, and afterwards was a civilian and military physician in 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...
, and was an army surgeon in the last phases of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
(1814-15). In 1818 he returned to Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
where he remained for the remainder of his career.
Chelius was a prime catalyst in the creation of the medical faculty at the University of Heidelberg, and is considered the founder of the surgical tradition at the facility. He was a professor at Heidelberg from 1818 until 1864, and was a specialist in ophthalmic surgery. One of his better-known patients was composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, whom Chelius treated for sepsis
Sepsis
Sepsis is a potentially deadly medical condition that is characterized by a whole-body inflammatory state and the presence of a known or suspected infection. The body may develop this inflammatory response by the immune system to microbes in the blood, urine, lungs, skin, or other tissues...
of the finger. Afterwards, a grateful Chopin gave a private concert in Chelius' home. Today, the building where Chelius lived from 1830 until 1876 is the site of the Kurpfälzisches Museum
Kurpfälzisches Museum
The Kurpfälzisches Museum is a museum of art and archaeology in Heidelberg, Germany. It is located in the Palais Morass. It was founded in the late 1870s, when the city of Heidelberg purchased the private collection of the artist and art historian Charles de...
in Heidelberg.
Selected writings
- Handbuch der Chirurgie: zu dem Gebrauche bei seinen Vorlesungen (Manual of surgery, derived from lectures); 1822
- Zur Lehre von den Staphylomen des Auges (Concerning the theory of Staphylomen of the eye)
- Handbuch der Augenheilkunde: zu dem Gebrauche bei seinen Vorlesungen (Manual of Ophthalmology, derived from lectures); 1844
- Über die durchsichtige Hornhaut des Auges, ihre Function und ihre krankhaften Veränderungen (Book concerning the Function and Diseases of the Cornea)