Felix Victor Birch-Hirschfeld
Encyclopedia
Felix Victor Birch-Hirschfeld (May 2, 1842 – November 19, 1899) was a German pathologist who was a native of Kluvensieck bei Rendsburg
. In 1867 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Leipzig
, where he studied under Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich
(1815-1877) and Ernst Leberecht Wagner
(1828-1888). In 1870 he became a prosector
at the city hospital in Dresden
, and in 1885 returned to Leipzig
, where he succeeded Julius Cohnheim (1839-1884) as chair of pathological anatomy. One of his better known assistants was pathologist Christian Georg Schmorl
(1861-1932).
Birch-Hirschfeld made important contributions in several facets of pathological medicine, and is particularly remembered for his work in bacteriology
. In 1898 he described the unitary nature of nephroblastoma.
Rendsburg
Rendsburg is a town on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. As of 2006, it had a population of 28,476.-History:...
. In 1867 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where he studied under Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich
Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich
Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich was a German physician, pioneer psychiatrist, and medical professor...
(1815-1877) and Ernst Leberecht Wagner
Ernst Leberecht Wagner
Ernst Leberecht Wagner was a German pathologist who was a native of Dehlitz, a town in the Burgenlandkreis district of Saxony-Anhalt. He studied medicine in Leipzig under Karl August Wunderlich , in Prague under Josef Skoda and in Vienna under Karl von Rokitansky...
(1828-1888). In 1870 he became a prosector
Prosector
A prosector is a person with the special task of preparing a dissection for demonstration, usually in medical schools or hospitals. Many important anatomists began their careers as prosectors working for lecturers and demonstrators in anatomy and pathology....
at the city hospital in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, and in 1885 returned to Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, where he succeeded Julius Cohnheim (1839-1884) as chair of pathological anatomy. One of his better known assistants was pathologist Christian Georg Schmorl
Christian Georg Schmorl
Christian Georg Schmorl was a German pathologist who was a native of Mügeln in the Kingdom of Saxony. He studied medicine in Leipzig and for most of his career he was associated with the city hospital in Dresden....
(1861-1932).
Birch-Hirschfeld made important contributions in several facets of pathological medicine, and is particularly remembered for his work in bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
. In 1898 he described the unitary nature of nephroblastoma.
- Associated eponym:
- Birch-Hirschfeld stain: A stain that was formerly used for demonstrating amyloidAmyloidAmyloids are insoluble fibrous protein aggregates sharing specific structural traits. Abnormal accumulation of amyloid in organs may lead to amyloidosis, and may play a role in various neurodegenerative diseases.-Definition:...
, and consisted of a mixture of Bismarck brownBismarck brownBismarck brown may refer to:* Bismarck brown R, basic brown 4* Bismarck brown Y, basic brown 1...
and crystal violetCrystal violetCrystal violet or Gentian violet is a triarylmethane dye. The dye is used as a histological stain and in Gram’s method of classifying bacteria. Crystal violet has antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelmintic properties and was formerly important as a topical antiseptic...
.
Selected writings
- Lehrbuch der Pathologischen Anatomie (Textbook of Pathological-Anatomy) Leipsig, 1877
- Die Entstehung der Gelbsucht neugeborener Kinder( The emergence of jaundice in newborn children); Virchow'sRudolf VirchowRudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medizin, Berlin, LXXXVII. - The Skrophulose, In: Hugo Wilhelm von ZiemssenHugo Wilhelm von ZiemssenHugo von Ziemssen was a German physician, born at Greifswald. He studied there, at Berlin, and at Würzburg. In 1863 he was called to Erlangen as professor of pathology and director of the clinic, and in 1874 to Munich as director of the general hospital...
's Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. Volume XIII; 2nd edition - Grundriss der Allgemeinen Pathologie (Outline of General Pathology) Leipsig, 1892
- Über die Krankheiten der Leber und Milz (About the diseases of the liver and spleen). In: Carl Jakob Adolf Christian GerhardtCarl Jakob Adolf Christian GerhardtCarl Jakob Adolf Christian Gerhardt ; was a German internist born in Speyer....
(1833-1902): Handbuch der Kinderkrankheiten. Volume IV, Tübingen, H. Laupp, (1877–1893).