Johann Nepomuk Rust
Encyclopedia
Johann Nepomuk Rust was a surgeon
and military physician born at Jánský Vrh
, Javorník
, Austrian Silesia
(today in the Czech Republic
).
He studied medicine in Prague
, earning his degree in obstetrics
in 1799 and a doctorate in surgery in 1800. Afterwards he worked briefly in Vienna
and Paris
, and later taught classes at the Lyceum in Olomouc. From 1803 to 1810 he was a professor of surgery at the University of Kraków, where he established a local surgical clinic. From 1810 to 1815 he was chief surgeon at the Allgemeines Krankenhaus in Vienna.
In 1815 he moved to Berlin
and became a member of the Prussian military as a physician. The following year he became director of the new surgical/ophthalmological clinic at the Charité
, as well as adjunct professor at the medical-surgical military academy in Berlin. In 1822 he was awarded with the military title of Generalstabsarzt
(Surgeon General), and in 1824 became a full professor at the University of Berlin. In 1834, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
. In 1837 he was appointed director of surgical and pharmaceutical studies at the university.
Among his literary works was a highly acclaimed multi-volume textbook on surgery titled Theoretisch-praktisches Handbuch der Chirurgie, mit Einschluss der syphilitischen und Augen-Krankheiten (1830-1836). In 1816 he became editor of the Magazins für die gesammte Heilkunde. Towards the end of his career, he suffered from failing eyesight, and consequently most of his later surgical operations were performed by Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach
(1792-1847). He died in 1840 on his estate Schloss Kleutsch [today: Kluczowa] near Frankenstein
in Silesia, Prussia [today: Zabkowice Slaskie, Poland].
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 military physician born at Jánský Vrh
Jánský vrch
Jánský vrch is a castle located in the Jeseník District, which lies in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. The castle Jánský Vrch stands on a hill above the town of Javorník in the north-western edge of Czech Silesia, a territory historically known as Sudetenland.-History:The castle is...
, Javorník
Javorník (Jeseník District)
Javorník or Javorník u Jeseníku or Javorník ve Slezsku, , is a town in the Jeseník District of the Olomouc Region, Javorník Hook, Czech Republic. It has about 2,900 inhabitants.-Early history:...
, Austrian Silesia
Austrian Silesia
Austrian Silesia , officially the Duchy of Upper and Lower Silesia was an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Empire, from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
(today in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
).
He studied medicine in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, earning his degree in obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
in 1799 and a doctorate in surgery in 1800. Afterwards he worked briefly 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...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and later taught classes at the Lyceum in Olomouc. From 1803 to 1810 he was a professor of surgery at the University of Kraków, where he established a local surgical clinic. From 1810 to 1815 he was chief surgeon at the Allgemeines Krankenhaus in Vienna.
In 1815 he moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and became a member of the Prussian military as a physician. The following year he became director of the new surgical/ophthalmological clinic at the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
, as well as adjunct professor at the medical-surgical military academy in Berlin. In 1822 he was awarded with the military title of Generalstabsarzt
Generalstabsarzt
Generalstabsarzt may refer to:* Major General in the Bundeswehr Joint Medical Service* Surgeon general of the Prussian army* Surgeon general of the Bavarian army...
(Surgeon General), and in 1824 became a full professor at the University of Berlin. In 1834, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
. In 1837 he was appointed director of surgical and pharmaceutical studies at the university.
Among his literary works was a highly acclaimed multi-volume textbook on surgery titled Theoretisch-praktisches Handbuch der Chirurgie, mit Einschluss der syphilitischen und Augen-Krankheiten (1830-1836). In 1816 he became editor of the Magazins für die gesammte Heilkunde. Towards the end of his career, he suffered from failing eyesight, and consequently most of his later surgical operations were performed by Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach
Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach
Johann Friedrich Dieffenbach was a German surgeon who specialized in skin transplantation and plastic surgery. His work in rhinoplastic and maxillofacial surgery established many modern techniques of reconstructive surgery. He endeavours comprehended subcutaneous operations such as tenotomy, the...
(1792-1847). He died in 1840 on his estate Schloss Kleutsch [today: Kluczowa] near Frankenstein
Zabkowice Slaskie
Ząbkowice Śląskie is a town in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in south-western Poland. It is the seat of Ząbkowice Śląskie County, and of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Ząbkowice Śląskie....
in Silesia, Prussia [today: Zabkowice Slaskie, Poland].
- Associated eponym:
- Rust's disease: TuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
of the two upper cervical vertebrae and their articulations; synonymous to tuberculous spondylitis.