Ernst von Bergmann

Ernst von Bergmann (1836-1907) was a Baltic German surgeon who is considered a pioneer in aseptic surgery. He was born in Riga, Latvia, and studied medicine at the University of Dorpat, where he later became a professor of surgery. He is best known for introducing heat sterilization of surgical instruments, a practice that greatly reduced the risk of infection during surgery.

Early Life and Education

Ernst von Bergmann was born on December 20, 1836, in Riga, Latvia. He studied medicine at the University of Dorpat, where he graduated in 1860. After graduation, he continued his studies in various European cities, including Vienna, Paris, and London.

Career

In 1866, von Bergmann became a professor of surgery at the University of Dorpat. He later moved to the University of Würzburg in 1878 and then to the University of Berlin in 1882, where he served as the director of the surgical clinic until his retirement in 1906.

Von Bergmann is best known for introducing the concept of heat sterilization of surgical instruments. Prior to this, surgeons would clean their instruments with soap and water, which did not effectively kill bacteria. Von Bergmann's method involved boiling the instruments, which killed the bacteria and greatly reduced the risk of infection during surgery.

Legacy

Ernst von Bergmann's contributions to the field of surgery have had a lasting impact. His method of sterilizing surgical instruments is still used today, and he is considered a pioneer in aseptic surgery. He also made significant contributions to neurosurgery and was one of the first surgeons to successfully remove a brain tumor.

See Also

• History of surgery
• Aseptic technique
• Neurosurgery

References

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Ernst von Bergmann

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  Ernst von Bergmann performing a leg amputation

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  Ernst von Bergmann

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  Ernst von Bergmann