Philipp Franz von Walther
Encyclopedia
Philipp Franz von Walther (1782 – 1849) was a German surgeon
and ophthalmologist who was a native of Burrweiler
.
In 1803 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Landshut
where he was a student of Georg Joseph Beer
(1763-1821), and subsequently was a professor at the Universities of Bamberg, Landshut
, Bonn
(1818-1830), and Munich. Among his better known students were Johannes Peter Müller
(1801-1858) at Bonn
, and Johann Lukas Schönlein
(1793-1864) and Cajetan von Textor
(1782-1860) at Landshut.
Walther is credited for contributions made in several medical fields, but is best known for his pioneer work in ophthalmology
and ophthalmic surgery
. In 1826 he described the first tarsorrhaphy
for closure of a portion of the eyelid
s for partial ectropion
, and in the treatise Ueber die Hornhautflecken, he gave an early account of cornea
l opacity.
With Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe
(1787-1840) he was co-editor of Journal der Chirurgie und Augenheilkunde, an influential journal of surgery and ophthalmology. Walther is also credited with performing numerous experiments involving medical galvanism
.
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 ophthalmologist who was a native of Burrweiler
Burrweiler
Burrweiler is a municipality in the Südliche Weinstraße district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
.
In 1803 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Landshut
University of Ingolstadt
The University of Ingolstadt was founded in 1472 by Louis the Rich, the Duke of Bavaria at the time, and its first Chancellor was the Bishop of Eichstätt. It consisted of five faculties: humanities, sciences, theology, law and medicine, all of which were contained in the Hoheschule...
where he was a student of Georg Joseph Beer
Georg Joseph Beer
Georg Joseph Beer was an Austrian ophthalmologist . He is credited with introducing a flap operation for treatment of cataracts , as well as popularizing the instrument used to perform the surgery .-Career:Initially a theology student, in 1786 he earned his medical doctorate in Vienna...
(1763-1821), and subsequently was a professor at the Universities of Bamberg, Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
, 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...
(1818-1830), and Munich. Among his better known students were Johannes Peter Müller
Johannes Peter Müller
Johannes Peter Müller , was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, and ichthyologist not only known for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge.-Early years and education:...
(1801-1858) at Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, and Johann Lukas Schönlein
Johann Lukas Schönlein
Johann Lukas Schönlein was a German naturalist, and professor of medicine, born in Bamberg. He studied medicine at Landshut, Jena, Göttingen, and Würzburg...
(1793-1864) and Cajetan von Textor
Cajetan von Textor
Cajetan von Textor was a German surgeon born in the Ebersberg district of Upper Bavaria.From 1804 to 1808 he studied at the University of Landshut, where he was a pupil of Philipp Franz von Walther...
(1782-1860) at Landshut.
Walther is credited for contributions made in several medical fields, but is best known for his pioneer work in ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
and ophthalmic surgery
Eye surgery
Eye surgery, also known as orogolomistician surgery or ocular surgery, is surgery performed on the eye or its adnexa, typically by an ophthalmologist.-Preparation and precautions:...
. In 1826 he described the first tarsorrhaphy
Tarsorrhaphy
Tarsorrhaphy is a surgical procedure in which the eyelids are partially sewn together to narrow the opening .It may be done to protect the cornea in cases of corneal exposure or after corneal graft surgery.-External links:*...
for closure of a portion of the eyelid
Eyelid
An eyelid is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye. With the exception of the prepuce and the labia minora, it has the thinnest skin of the whole body. The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid to "open" the eye. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily...
s for partial ectropion
Ectropion
Ectropion is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outwards. It is one of the notable aspects of newborns exhibiting congenital Harlequin type ichthyosis, but ectropion can occur due to any weakening of tissue of the lower eyelid. The condition can be repaired surgically...
, and in the treatise Ueber die Hornhautflecken, he gave an early account of cornea
Cornea
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Together with the lens, the cornea refracts light, with the cornea accounting for approximately two-thirds of the eye's total optical power. In humans, the refractive power of the cornea is...
l opacity.
With Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe
Karl Ferdinand von Gräfe
Karl Ferdinand von Graefe was a German surgeon from Warsaw. He was also the father of Albrecht von Graefe and grandfather of Albrecht von Graefe....
(1787-1840) he was co-editor of Journal der Chirurgie und Augenheilkunde, an influential journal of surgery and ophthalmology. Walther is also credited with performing numerous experiments involving medical galvanism
Galvanism
In biology, galvanism is the contraction of a muscle that is stimulated by an electric current. In physics and chemistry, it is the induction of electrical current from a chemical reaction, typically between two chemicals with differing electronegativities....
.
Selected written works
- Ueber die therapeutische Indication und den Techniscismus der galvanischen Operation, 1803
- Ueber das Alterthum der Knochenkrankheiten, 1825
- Ectropicum anguli oculi externi, eine neue Augenkrankheit und die Tarsoraphie, eine neue Augen-Operation (Ectropicum anguli externi oculi, a new eye disease and Tarsorrhaphy, a new eye surgery), 1826
- Ueber die Trepanation nach Kopfverletzungen (Concerning trepanation for head injuries), 1831
- Die Lehre vom schwarzen Star und seine Heilart; Pathologie und Therapie der Amarose (Pathology and Treatment of Amaurosis), 1840
- Ueber die Amaurose nach Superciliar-Verletzungen, 1840
- Ueber die Revaccination (Concerning Re-vaccination), 1844
- Ueber die Hornhautflecken (About spots on the cornea), 1845
- Kataraktologie, Beobachtung einer Cornea conica im chirurgisch-ophthalmologischen Klinikum in München (Observation of a cornea conica in the Surgical Eye Hospital in Munich), 1846
- Wieder-Anheilung einer ganz abgehauenen Nase (S.521-235, 1 Taf.). and Nachricht über die Anheilung einer, zwei Stunden lang völlig abgetrennten Nase; ein Sendschreiben des R.Markiewicz an C.F. Graefe (S.536-537).