Robert Ferdinand Wilms
Encyclopedia
Robert Friedrich Wilms (September 9, 1824 - September 23, 1880) was a German surgeon
who was a native of Arnswalde. He studied medicine in Berlin
, and in 1848 became an assistant at the Bethanien Hospital in Berlin. From 1862 until his death in 1880, he was senior Chefarzt (chief physician) at Bethanien Hospital.
Wilms was a colleague of famed Berlin-Charité
surgeon Bernhard von Langenbeck
(1810-1887), and was a catalyst in establishing Bethanien Hospital as a center of learning for students and young surgical assistants. Some of his better known assistants in Berlin were Edmund Rose
(1836-1914, Heinrich Irenaeus Quincke
(1842-1922), Ernst Georg Ferdinand Küster
(1839-1930) and Werner Körte
(1853-1937), the latter having served as provisional head at the Bethanien when Wilms was incapacitated due to illness.
Wilms is credited for making improvements to urethrotomy
(surgery of the urethra
), and reintroducing tracheal surgery
for problems caused by diphtheria
. While still a student, he was part of an expedition
headed by Johannes Peter Müller
(1801-1858) to Helgoland, where he researched chaetognaths, which were the topic of his thesis, Observationes de Sagitta mare germanicum circa Helgoland.
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 Arnswalde. He studied medicine in 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...
, and in 1848 became an assistant at the Bethanien Hospital in Berlin. From 1862 until his death in 1880, he was senior Chefarzt (chief physician) at Bethanien Hospital.
Wilms was a colleague of famed Berlin-Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
surgeon Bernhard von Langenbeck
Bernhard von Langenbeck
Bernhard Rudolf Konrad von Langenbeck was a German surgeon known as the developer of Langenbeck's amputation and founder of Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery....
(1810-1887), and was a catalyst in establishing Bethanien Hospital as a center of learning for students and young surgical assistants. Some of his better known assistants in Berlin were Edmund Rose
Edmund Rose
Edmund Rose was a German surgeon who was a native of Berlin. He studied medicine in Berlin and Würzburg and subsequently was an assistant to surgeon Robert Ferdinand Wilms in Berlin from 1860 until 1864...
(1836-1914, Heinrich Irenaeus Quincke
Heinrich Quincke
Heinrich Irenaeus Quincke was a German internist and surgeon. His main contribution to internal medicine was the introduction of the lumbar puncture for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes...
(1842-1922), Ernst Georg Ferdinand Küster
Ernst Georg Ferdinand Küster
Ernst Georg Ferdinand Küster was a German surgeon born in Wollin.He studied medicine in Bonn, Würzburg and Berlin, and following graduation became an assistant to Robert Ferdinand Wilms at the Bethanien Hospital in Berlin...
(1839-1930) and Werner Körte
Werner Körte
Werner Körte was a German surgeon who was a native of Berlin. He was the brother of archaeologist Gustav Körte and philologist Alfred Körte ....
(1853-1937), the latter having served as provisional head at the Bethanien when Wilms was incapacitated due to illness.
Wilms is credited for making improvements to urethrotomy
Subincision
Penile subincision is a form of body modification consisting of a urethrotomy, in which the underside of the penis is incised and the urethra slit open lengthwise, from the urethral opening toward the base...
(surgery of the urethra
Urethra
In anatomy, the urethra is a tube that connects the urinary bladder to the genitals for the removal of fluids out of the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine...
), and reintroducing tracheal surgery
Tracheotomy
Among the oldest described surgical procedures, tracheotomy consists of making an incision on the anterior aspect of the neck and opening a direct airway through an incision in the trachea...
for problems caused by 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...
. While still a student, he was part of an expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
headed by 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) to Helgoland, where he researched chaetognaths, which were the topic of his thesis, Observationes de Sagitta mare germanicum circa Helgoland.