Ludwig Laqueur
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Laqueur was a German ophthalmologist born in Festenberg
, Silesia
. He was the father of historian
Richard Laqueur
(1881-1959).
He studied medicine in Breslau and Berlin
, earning his doctorate in 1860. From 1863 to 1869 he worked as an assistant at Richard Liebreich
's ophthalmological hospital in Paris. In 1873 he became an associate professor at the University of Strasbourg
, where in 1877 he was appointed a full professor of ophthalmology.
Laqueur is remembered for his research of physostigmine
, a chemical substance found in the Calabar bean
(Physostigma venenosa) of West Africa. In 1876 he published Ueber eine neue therapeutische Verwendung des Physostigmin, suggesting the use of physostigmine for the treatment of glaucoma
. Laqueur noticed that extracts of the Calabar bean significantly lowered intraocular pressure
. He could attest to these results first-hand, because Laqueur suffered from glaucoma, a fact that was kept secret from his medical colleagues until after his death. Laqueur died in Santa Margherita Ligure
on April 20, 1909.
Twardogóra
Twardogóra is a town in Oleśnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Twardogóra. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany. On 23 January 1945 the town was taken by the Red Army and later the same year became a part of...
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
. He was the father of historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Richard Laqueur
Richard Laqueur
Richard Laqueur was a German historian and philologist who was born in Strassburg.He studied classical literature and history at the Universities of Bonn and Strassburg, and in 1904 received his doctorate of philosophy. In 1912 he became a full professor at Strassburg, and during the same year was...
(1881-1959).
He studied medicine in Breslau and 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...
, earning his doctorate in 1860. From 1863 to 1869 he worked as an assistant at Richard Liebreich
Richard Liebreich
Richard Liebreich was a German ophthalmologist and physiologist who was a native of Königsberg.In 1853 he earned his doctorate at Halle, and from 1854 until 1862 was an assistant to Albrecht von Graefe in Berlin. He subsequently practiced medicine in Paris and London , where he was head of...
's ophthalmological hospital in Paris. In 1873 he became an associate professor at the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
, where in 1877 he was appointed a full professor of ophthalmology.
Laqueur is remembered for his research of physostigmine
Physostigmine
Physostigmine is a parasympathomimetic alkaloid, specifically, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor. It occurs naturally in the Calabar bean....
, a chemical substance found in the Calabar bean
Calabar bean
The Calabar bean is the seed of a leguminous plant, Physostigma venenosum, a native of tropical Africa, poisonous to humans. It derives the first part of its scientific name from a curious beak-like appendage at the end of the stigma, in the centre of the flower; this appendage, though solid, was...
(Physostigma venenosa) of West Africa. In 1876 he published Ueber eine neue therapeutische Verwendung des Physostigmin, suggesting the use of physostigmine for the treatment of glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
. Laqueur noticed that extracts of the Calabar bean significantly lowered intraocular pressure
Intraocular pressure
Intraocular pressure is the fluid pressure inside the eye. Tonometry is the method eye care professionals use to determine this. IOP is an important aspect in the evaluation of patients at risk from glaucoma...
. He could attest to these results first-hand, because Laqueur suffered from glaucoma, a fact that was kept secret from his medical colleagues until after his death. Laqueur died in Santa Margherita Ligure
Santa Margherita Ligure
thumb|250px|Villa Durazzo.Santa Margherita Ligure is a comune in the province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 35 km southeast of Genoa, in the Tigullio traditional area.left|220px|thumb|16th century castle....
on April 20, 1909.
Written works
- Etudes sur les Affections Sympathiques de l'oeil, Paris, 1869
- Ueber eine neue therapeutische Verwendung des Physostigmin, 1876
- Ueber Atropin und Physostigmin in Albrecht von Graefe's Archiv für Augenheilkunde xxiii.
- Das Prodromalstadium des Glaucoms, ib. xxvi.
- Die Lage des Centrums der Macula Lutea im Menschlichen Gehirn in Rudolf VirchowRudolf VirchowRudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
's Archiv clviii. - "Lateral Illumination" in "System of the Diseases of the Eye" edited by Norris and Oliva, Philadelphia, 1897.
External links
- Jewish Encyclopedia (biography)