Max Wilms
Encyclopedia
Carl Max Wilhelm Wilms was a German pathologist and surgeon
who was a native of Hünshoven, which today is part of the town Geilenkirchen
.
In 1890 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Bonn
, and afterwards was an assistant to pathologist Eugen Bostroem
(1850-1928) in Giessen and internist Otto Michael Ludwig Leichtenstern
(1845-1900) in Cologne
. In 1899 he was habilitated for surgery at Leipzig
, and in 1907 he became a professor of surgery at Basel
. In 1910 he attained the chair of surgery at the University of Heidelberg. In May 1918, while performing emergency surgery on a French P.O.W. who had a swollen larynx
associated with diphtheria
, Wilms became infected with the disease, and died within a few days at the age of 50. Reportedly, he was successful in saving the life of the French soldier. After his death, his position at Heidelberg
was filled by surgeon Eugen Enderlen
(1863-1940).
Max Wilms is remembered for his work in the field of nephrology
, and his pathological studies concerning the development of tumor
cells. In his research of renal
tumors, he proposed that tumor cells originate during the development of the embryo
. He published his findings in an influential 1899 monograph
titled Die Mischgeschwülste der Niere. As a result of his extensive research of renal tumors, another name for a nephroblastoma is the eponymous Wilms' tumor
, which is a malignant tumor of the kidney
.
Wilms made several contributions as a surgeon, and is credited for introducing a partial rib resection
used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. He also did extensive work in the field of radiology
, and is credited for developing a manometer for measurement of cerebrospinal fluid
pressure.
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...
who was a native of Hünshoven, which today is part of the town Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen
Geilenkirchen is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx. 15 km north-east of Heerlen and 20 km north of Aachen....
.
In 1890 he earned his medical doctorate from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, and afterwards was an assistant to pathologist Eugen Bostroem
Eugen Bostroem
Eugen Woldemar Bostroem was a German pathologist. He was a native of Fellin , Livonia). He studied medicine in Leipzig and Erlangen, receiving his degree in 1876. Afterwards he was an assistant to Friedrich Albert von Zenker at the pathology institute in Erlangen...
(1850-1928) in Giessen and internist Otto Michael Ludwig Leichtenstern
Otto Michael Ludwig Leichtenstern
Otto Michael Ludwig Leichtenstern was a German internist born in Ingolstadt.In 1869 he received his doctorate from the University of Munich, later working as an assistant of clinical medicine in Munich under Karl von Pfeufer and Joseph von Lindwurm...
(1845-1900) in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. In 1899 he was habilitated for surgery at 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...
, and in 1907 he became a professor of surgery at Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. In 1910 he attained the chair of surgery at the University of Heidelberg. In May 1918, while performing emergency surgery on a French P.O.W. who had a swollen larynx
Larynx
The larynx , commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the neck of amphibians, reptiles and mammals involved in breathing, sound production, and protecting the trachea against food aspiration. It manipulates pitch and volume...
associated with diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
, Wilms became infected with the disease, and died within a few days at the age of 50. Reportedly, he was successful in saving the life of the French soldier. After his death, his position at 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...
was filled by surgeon Eugen Enderlen
Eugen Enderlen
Eugen Enderlen was a German physician and surgeon born in Salzburg, Austria.He studied medicine in Munich, Greifswald and Marburg, earning his doctorate in 1888. In 1895 he received his habilitation at the University of Greifswald, and during the following year began work as an assistant to Ernst...
(1863-1940).
Max Wilms is remembered for his work in the field of nephrology
Nephrology
Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
, and his pathological studies concerning the development of tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
cells. In his research of renal
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
tumors, he proposed that tumor cells originate during the development of the embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
. He published his findings in an influential 1899 monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
titled Die Mischgeschwülste der Niere. As a result of his extensive research of renal tumors, another name for a nephroblastoma is the eponymous Wilms' tumor
Wilms' tumor
Wilms' tumor or nephroblastoma is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults.Its common name is an eponym, referring to Dr. Max Wilms, the German surgeon who first described this kind of tumor....
, which is a malignant tumor of the kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
.
Wilms made several contributions as a surgeon, and is credited for introducing a partial rib resection
Segmental resection
Segmental resection is a surgical procedure to remove part of an organ or gland. It may also be used to remove a tumor and normal tissue around it. In lung cancer surgery, segmental resection refers to removing a section of a lobe of the lung.- External links :* entry in the public domain NCI...
used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. He also did extensive work in the field of radiology
Radiology
Radiology is a medical specialty that employs the use of imaging to both diagnose and treat disease visualized within the human body. Radiologists use an array of imaging technologies to diagnose or treat diseases...
, and is credited for developing a manometer for measurement of cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
pressure.