Oskar Liebreich
Encyclopedia
Matthias Eugen Oscar Liebreich (14 February 1839 - 2 July 1908) was a German pharmacologist who was a native of Königsberg
.
He studied chemistry under Carl Remigius Fresenius
(1818–1897) in Wiesbaden
, and studied medicine in Königsberg
, Tübingen
and Berlin
, achieving his degree in 1865. Beginning in 1867 he worked as an assistant in the chemistry
department of the pathological
institute under Rudolf Virchow
. Later he became professor and director of the Pharmacology Institute in Berlin. In 1889 he co-founded the Balneologischen Gesellschaft (Balneology Society) in Berlin, and was its chairman until his death in 1908. He was a younger brother of ophthalmologist Richard Liebreich
(1830–1917).
Liebreich is well-known for his investigations of the sedative and hypnotic properties of chloral hydrate
in 1869, and was a major figure concerning the drugs' popularity in the latter half of the 19th century. He also made important contributions in his chemical research of substances such as cantharidin
, boracic acid and lanolin
.
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
.
He studied chemistry under Carl Remigius Fresenius
Carl Remigius Fresenius
Carl Remigius Fresenius , was a German chemist, known for his studies in analytical chemistry.- Biography :Fresenius was born on 28 December 1818, in Frankfurt, Germany...
(1818–1897) in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, and studied medicine in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
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...
, achieving his degree in 1865. Beginning in 1867 he worked as an assistant in the chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
department of the pathological
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
institute under Rudolf Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
. Later he became professor and director of the Pharmacology Institute in Berlin. In 1889 he co-founded the Balneologischen Gesellschaft (Balneology Society) in Berlin, and was its chairman until his death in 1908. He was a younger brother of ophthalmologist 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...
(1830–1917).
Liebreich is well-known for his investigations of the sedative and hypnotic properties of chloral hydrate
Chloral hydrate
Chloral hydrate is a sedative and hypnotic drug as well as a chemical reagent and precursor. The name chloral hydrate indicates that it is formed from chloral by the addition of one molecule of water. Its chemical formula is C2H3Cl3O2....
in 1869, and was a major figure concerning the drugs' popularity in the latter half of the 19th century. He also made important contributions in his chemical research of substances such as cantharidin
Cantharidin
Cantharidin, a type of terpenoid, is a poisonous chemical compound secreted by many species of blister beetle, and most notably by the Spanish fly, Lytta vesicatoria. The false blister beetles and cardinal beetles also have cantharidin.-History:...
, boracic acid and lanolin
Lanolin
Lanolin , also called Adeps Lanae, wool wax or wool grease, is a yellow waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals. Most lanolin used by humans comes from domestic sheep...
.