Heinrich von Recklinghausen
Encyclopedia
Heinrich von Recklinghausen (April 17, 1867 - December 12, 1942) was a German
physician
and scientist from Würzburg
. After receiving his medical doctorate in 1895, he worked as an assistant in several hospitals. In 1902 he moved to Bern, where he worked in the Physiological Institute of Hugo Kronecker
(1839-1914). During World War I he was a military physician in Strasbourg
, and afterwards performed scientific research in Heidelberg
and Munich
. He was the son of pathologist Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen
(1833-1910).
Recklinghausen is primarily remembered for his study of blood pressure
, and contributions made in the science of blood pressure measurement. He is credited for making improvements to Scipione Riva-Rocci
's (1863-1937) sphygmomanometer
by increasing the size of the pressure cuff from 5cm to 10cm. During the 1930s he devised an oscillo-tonometer; a device used to measure systolic
and diastolic
blood pressure. It consisted of two overlapping cuffs; a large cuff to perform basic sphygmomanometer functions, and a smaller cuff to amplify pulsations that take place when the larger cuff is deflated. With Recklinghausen's oscillotonometer, a stethoscope
was not needed to listen for Korotkoff sounds
, they were instead represented as oscillations of a needle on a pressure gauge.
For much of his life, Recklinghausen maintained an avid interest in philosophy
and metaphysics
. Although he published no books on these subjects, he left behind copious notes concerning his beliefs, and maintained an ongoing correspondence with philosophers Heinrich Rickert
(1863-1936), Paul Hensel
(1860-1930) and Albert Schweitzer
(1875-1965).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and scientist from 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....
. After receiving his medical doctorate in 1895, he worked as an assistant in several hospitals. In 1902 he moved to Bern, where he worked in the Physiological Institute of Hugo Kronecker
Hugo Kronecker
Karl Hugo Kronecker was a German physiologist from Liegnitz, Prussian Silesia. He was the brother of Leopold Kronecker....
(1839-1914). During World War I he was a military physician in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, and afterwards performed scientific research in 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...
and 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...
. He was the son of pathologist Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen
Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen
Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen was a German pathologist who practiced medicine in Würzburg and Strassburg . Born in Gütersloh, Westphalia, he was the father of physiologist Heinrich von Recklinghausen ....
(1833-1910).
Recklinghausen is primarily remembered for his study of blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
, and contributions made in the science of blood pressure measurement. He is credited for making improvements to Scipione Riva-Rocci
Scipione Riva-Rocci
Scipione Riva-Rocci was an Italian internist and pediatrician who was a native of Almese. He earned his medical degree in 1888 from the University of Turin, and from 1900 until 1928 was director of the hospital in Varese.He developed an easy to use version of the sphygmomanometer...
's (1863-1937) sphygmomanometer
Sphygmomanometer
A sphygmomanometer or blood pressure meter is a device used to measure blood pressure, comprising an inflatable cuff to restrict blood flow, and a mercury or mechanical manometer to measure the pressure. It is always used in conjunction with a means to determine at what pressure blood flow is just...
by increasing the size of the pressure cuff from 5cm to 10cm. During the 1930s he devised an oscillo-tonometer; a device used to measure systolic
Systole (medicine)
Systole is the contraction of the heart. Used alone, it usually means the contraction of the left ventricle.In all mammals, the heart has 4 chambers. The left and right ventricles pump together. The atria and ventricles pump in sequence...
and diastolic
Diastole
Diastole is the period of time when the heart fills with blood after systole . Ventricular diastole is the period during which the ventricles are relaxing, while atrial diastole is the period during which the atria are relaxing...
blood pressure. It consisted of two overlapping cuffs; a large cuff to perform basic sphygmomanometer functions, and a smaller cuff to amplify pulsations that take place when the larger cuff is deflated. With Recklinghausen's oscillotonometer, a stethoscope
Stethoscope
The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal body. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds. It is also used to listen to intestines and blood flow in arteries and veins...
was not needed to listen for Korotkoff sounds
Korotkoff sounds
Korotkoff are the sounds that medical personnel listen for when they are taking blood pressure using a non-invasive procedure. They are named after Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff, a Russian physician who described them in 1905, when he was working at the Imperial Medical Academy in St...
, they were instead represented as oscillations of a needle on a pressure gauge.
For much of his life, Recklinghausen maintained an avid interest in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
. Although he published no books on these subjects, he left behind copious notes concerning his beliefs, and maintained an ongoing correspondence with philosophers Heinrich Rickert
Heinrich Rickert
Heinrich John Rickert was a German philosopher, one of the leading Neo-Kantians.-Life:He was born in Danzig, Prussia and died in Heidelberg, Germany.-Thought:...
(1863-1936), Paul Hensel
Paul Hensel
----Paul Hugo Hensel was a German philosopher, son of the landowner and entrepreneur Sebastian Hensel, brother of the mathematician Kurt Hensel , grandson of the composer Fanny Mendelssohn and the painter Wilhelm Hensel, and a descendant of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn.Hensel was born in...
(1860-1930) and Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
(1875-1965).
Written works
- Ueber Blutdruckmessung beim Menschen. (Blood Pressure Measurement of humans) Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 46 (1901) 78
- Unblutige Blutdruckmessung. (Blood Pressure Measurement) Arch Exp Pathol Pharmakol 55 (1906) 375
- Was wir durch die Pulsdruckkurve und durch die Pulsdruckamplitude über den großen Kreislauf erfahren. Arch Exp. Pathol 56 (1906) 1
- Neue Apparate zur Messung des arteriellen Blutdrucks beim Menschen. (New apparatuses for the measurement of the arterial blood pressure of humans) Münchn Med Wochenschr 60 (1913) 817
- Gliedermechanik und Lähmungsprothesen. (Mechanics and Paralysis Prostheses) 2 Bd., Berlin 1920
- Eine neue Pumpe zur Blutdruckmessung am Menschen. (A new pump for Blood Pressure Measurement of humans} Dtsch Arch Klin Med 146 (1925) 212
- Rechtsprofil und Linksprofil in der Zeichenkunst der alten Ägypter. (Profiles in the indication art of Ancient Egyptian) Z Ägypt Sprache Altertumskunde 63 (1927) 14
- Druckschriftreform. Zwei Abhandlungen zur Fraktur-Antiqua-Frage. (Block letter reform, two papers for German-type Antiqua question) Mitt Akad Wiss Erforschung Pflege Deutschtum (Deutsche Akademie; 2. Heft (1929)
- Neue Wege der Blutdruckmessung. (New Methods of Blood Pressure Measurement); Berlin 1931
- Blutdruck-Meßmanschette mit Hilfen zur Aufbringung am Oberarm. (Blood pressure measuring seal with assistance for applying at the upper arm) Münchn Med Wochenschr 79 (1932) 1238
- Blutdruckmessung und Kreislauf in den Arterien des Menschen. (Blood Pressure Measurement and cycles in arteries) Dresden 1940.