Karl Thiersch
Encyclopedia
Karl Thiersch, also spelled Carl Thiersch (April 20, 1822 – April 28, 1895), was a German surgeon
born in Munich
. His father was educationist Friedrich Thiersch
, his father-in-law was renowned chemist
Justus von Liebig
. One brother, Ludwig
, was an influential painter, while another, Heinrich Wilhelm Josias
, was a theologian.
He received his doctorate from the University of Munich in 1843, where from 1848 to 1854 he served as prosector
of pathological anatomy. Afterwards he became a professor of surgery at the Universities of Erlangen (from 1854) and Leipzig
(from 1867). He was a medical surgeon in the First War of Schleswig
under Louis Stromeyer
(1804-1876), and a medical consultant during the Franco-Prussian War
.
In 1865 Thiersch demonstrated the epithelial origin of cancer, which put him in opposition to the doctrine of Rudolf Virchow
that a carcinoma
could originate from connective tissue
. Thiersch's findings were thus agreed upon by research done by Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz (1836-1921) at the University of Breslau. He is also credited with modification of Joseph Lister
's technique of antiseptic
sterilization by substituting salicylic acid
for carbolic acid. In addition he made contributions concerning wound healing and research of phosphorus necrosis of the jaw
.
His name is associated with "Thiersch's graft", a method of split-skin grafting
that he developed. This graft sometimes referred to as an "Ollier-Thiersch graft" (named with French surgeon Louis Léopold Ollier
).
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...
born in 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...
. His father was educationist Friedrich Thiersch
Friedrich Thiersch
Friedrich Wilhelm Thiersch , was a German classical scholar and educationist.-Biography:He was born at Kirchscheidungen...
, his father-in-law was renowned chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. As a professor, he devised the modern laboratory-oriented teaching method, and for such innovations, he is regarded as one of the...
. One brother, Ludwig
Ludwig Thiersch
Ludwig Thiersch was a German painter, primarily of mythological and religious subjects and especially of ecclesiastical art, also influential in Greece.-Early life:...
, was an influential painter, while another, Heinrich Wilhelm Josias
H. W. J. Thiersch
Heinrich Wilhelm Josias Thiersch , usually known as H. W. J. Thiersch, was a German philologist, theologian, and minister, active in the short-lived Catholic Apostolic Church.-Early life:...
, was a theologian.
He received his doctorate from the University of Munich in 1843, where from 1848 to 1854 he served as 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....
of pathological anatomy. Afterwards he became a professor of surgery at the Universities of Erlangen (from 1854) and 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...
(from 1867). He was a medical surgeon in the First War of Schleswig
First War of Schleswig
The First Schleswig War or Three Years' War was the first round of military conflict in southern Denmark and northern Germany rooted in the Schleswig-Holstein Question, contesting the issue of who should control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The war, which lasted from 1848–1851,...
under Louis Stromeyer
Louis Stromeyer
Georg Friedrich Louis Stromeyer was a German surgeon who was born in Hanover. He was the son of surgeon Christian Friedrich Stromeyer .-Biography:...
(1804-1876), and a medical consultant during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
In 1865 Thiersch demonstrated the epithelial origin of cancer, which put him in opposition to the doctrine of Rudolf Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
that a carcinoma
Carcinoma
Carcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
could originate from connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
. Thiersch's findings were thus agreed upon by research done by Wilhelm von Waldeyer-Hartz (1836-1921) at the University of Breslau. He is also credited with modification of Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister OM, FRS, PC , known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, who promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
's technique of antiseptic
Antiseptic
Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putrefaction...
sterilization by substituting salicylic acid
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is a monohydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid and a beta hydroxy acid. This colorless crystalline organic acid is widely used in organic synthesis and functions as a plant hormone. It is derived from the metabolism of salicin...
for carbolic acid. In addition he made contributions concerning wound healing and research of phosphorus necrosis of the jaw
Phossy jaw
Phossy jaw, formally phosphorus necrosis of the jaw, is an occupational disease of those who work with white phosphorus, also known as yellow phosphorus, without proper safeguards. It was most commonly seen in workers in the match industry in the 19th and early 20th century...
.
His name is associated with "Thiersch's graft", a method of split-skin grafting
Skin grafting
Skin grafting is a type of graft surgery involving the transplantation of skin. The transplanted tissue is called a skin graft.Skin grafting is often used to treat:*Extensive wounding or trauma*Burns...
that he developed. This graft sometimes referred to as an "Ollier-Thiersch graft" (named with French surgeon Louis Léopold Ollier
Louis Léopold Ollier
Louis Léopold Ollier, full name Louis Xavier Édouard Léopold Ollier was a French surgeon born in Les Vans, department of Ardèche. His father and grandfather were also physicians....
).
Selected publications
- Infectionsversuche an Thieren mit dem Inhalte des Choleradarmes Munich, 1856. (won a prize from the French Academy in 1867)
- De maxillarum necrosi phosphorica; Leipzig, 1867.
- Der Epithelialkrebs, namentlich der Haut. Eine anatomisch-klinische Untersuchung (with atlas), Leipzig, 1865
- Klinische Ergebnisse der Lister’schem Wundbehandlung und über den Ersatz der Carbolsäure durch Salicylsäure In: Volkmann’s Sammlung klinisher Vorträge, Leipzig, No. 84, 85.