Alfred Fröhlich
Encyclopedia
Alfred Fröhlich was an Austrian-American pharmacologist and neurologist
born in Vienna
.
In 1895 he graduated from the University of Vienna
, and afterwards remained at Vienna as an assistant to Carl Nothnagel
(1841-1905). In 1905 he became a member of the department of pharmacology at the university, and from 1919 until 1939 was a full professor of pharmacology and toxicology
. Following the Nazi takeover of Austria, Fröhlich emigrated to the United States, and worked at the May Institute of Medical Research of the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati. Here he continued his experimental research of the central nervous system
.
Fröhlich conducted investigations on the effects of the pituitary on the autonomic nervous system
, and with Otto Loewi
(1873-1961), he performed pharmacological
research of cocaine
. He was a good friend of Harvey Cushing
, whom he met in 1901 while working with Charles Scott Sherrington
in Liverpool
. In addition to his own laboratory, he also worked in marine laboratories at Naples
, Helgoland and in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
during his career.
in 1901 Fröhlich provided a comprehensive description of dystrophia adiposogenitalis, of which he published a paper titled Ein Fall von Tumor der Hypophysis cerebri ohne Akromegalie. This disorder is characterized by feminine obesity
along with retarded sexual maturity, and is caused by tumor
s of the pituitary. In honor of his discovery, this condition was to become known as "Fröhlich's syndrome". It is also referred to as Babinski-Fröhlich syndrome, named in conjunction with Joseph Babinski
, who gave an independent description of the disease a year earlier in 1900.
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
born 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 1895 he graduated from the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, and afterwards remained at Vienna as an assistant to Carl Nothnagel
Carl Nothnagel
Carl Wilhelm Hermann Nothnagel was a German internist born in Alt-Lietzegöricke , nearby Bärwalde in der Neumark , Neumark, Brandenburg....
(1841-1905). In 1905 he became a member of the department of pharmacology at the university, and from 1919 until 1939 was a full professor of pharmacology and toxicology
Toxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
. Following the Nazi takeover of Austria, Fröhlich emigrated to the United States, and worked at the May Institute of Medical Research of the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati. Here he continued his experimental research of the central nervous system
Central nervous system
The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish...
.
Fröhlich conducted investigations on the effects of the pituitary on the autonomic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
, and with Otto Loewi
Otto Loewi
Otto Loewi was a German born pharmacologist whose discovery of acetylcholine helped enhance medical therapy. The discovery earned for him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1936 which he shared with Sir Henry Dale, whom he met in 1902 when spending some months in Ernest Starling's...
(1873-1961), he performed pharmacological
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
research of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. He was a good friend of Harvey Cushing
Harvey Cushing
Harvey Williams Cushing, M.D. , was an American neurosurgeon and a pioneer of brain surgery, and the first to describe Cushing's syndrome...
, whom he met in 1901 while working with Charles Scott Sherrington
Charles Scott Sherrington
Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, OM, GBE, PRS was an English neurophysiologist, histologist, bacteriologist, and a pathologist, Nobel laureate and president of the Royal Society in the early 1920s...
in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. In addition to his own laboratory, he also worked in marine laboratories at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Helgoland and in Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands...
during his career.
in 1901 Fröhlich provided a comprehensive description of dystrophia adiposogenitalis, of which he published a paper titled Ein Fall von Tumor der Hypophysis cerebri ohne Akromegalie. This disorder is characterized by feminine obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
along with retarded sexual maturity, and is caused by tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
s of the pituitary. In honor of his discovery, this condition was to become known as "Fröhlich's syndrome". It is also referred to as Babinski-Fröhlich syndrome, named in conjunction with Joseph Babinski
Joseph Babinski
Joseph Jules François Félix Babinski was a French neurologist of Polish descent. He is best known for his 1896 description of the Babinski sign, a pathological plantar reflex indicative of corticospinal tract damage....
, who gave an independent description of the disease a year earlier in 1900.
Selected publications
- Ein Fall von Tumor der Hypophysis cerebri ohne Akromegalie (A Case of a Tumor of the Hypophysis cerebri without AcromegalyAcromegalyAcromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
), In: Wiener klinische Rundschau, 1901, 15: 833-836; 906-908. - Pharmakologie des Centralnervensystems (Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System). In: Handbuch der normalen und pathologischen Physiologie. Volume 10, Wien, 1927.
- Pharmakologie des vegetativen (autonomen) Nervensystems (Pharmacology of the Autonomic Nervous System), In: Handbuch der normalen und pathologischen Physiologie. Volume 10, Wien, 1927.
- Allgemein lähmende und erregbarkeitssteigernde Gifte, In: Handbuch der normalen und pathologischen Physiologie. Volume 9, Wien, 1929.