Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig (September 16, 1790-December 14, 1865) was a German physician known for his 1836 publication on the condition now known as Ludwig's angina
.
) in the state of Württemberg
. His father was a clergyman and served as his childhood teacher. At the age of 10, he was sent to attend the Latin school
at Markgröningen
. Ludwig showed promise in medicine at an early age, and at 14, he went to Neuenburg
to continue his classical studies while beginning to study medicine under a surgeon. Ludwig received a certificate of proficiency in 1807, whereupon he went on to study surgery
, medicine
, and obstetrics
at the University of Tübingen. His performance was so exemplary that he was awarded a gold medal by King Frederick I in 1809—before graduating—for the advancement of surgery. In July 1811, Ludwig received his doctorate.
Unfortunately, before he could commence his study tour, Napoleon
attempted to conquer Russia
, and previously exempt students were called to service. Ludwig served initially as the doctor for 3rd Infantry
at the Schorndorf
garrison
, and subsequently as director for the Württemberg field hospital
at Smolensk
in 1812.
He contracted typhus
and was captured by the Russians; after recovering from typhus, he served as a Russian noblewoman's personal physician. Once he was freed from Russian capture in 1814, Ludwig returned home and directed a typhus hospital in Hohenheim
, where he completed his military service in 1815.
in 1815. Before fulfilling it, however, he commenced his initially-planned study tour that had been put off in light of the war. Upon returning to Tübingen in 1816, Ludwig, having experienced the equipment available at other facilities in Germany, immediately supplemented Tübingen clinic's own supplies and reference literature with his own salary.
When supplies were similarly lacking in the following year, Ludwig petitioned the king for a higher salary. In response, Ludwig was appointed as one of King Wilhelm I's personal physicians (King Frederick had died the previous year). Ludwig remained in Tübingen until a successor could take his place in 1817.
When Ludwig went to Stuttgart to serve the king, he was quickly recognized as a great diagnostician, and he was soon promoted to be the royal family's chief physician.
He remained in Stuttgart for most of the remainder of his life; between 1835 and 1846, he served as director of the medical college, president of the Württemberg Medical Association, and chairman of the first Stuttgart scientific congress's medical section.
Ludwig published his now-famous paper on Ludwig's angina
with no title in 1836. A colleague dubbed the condition "Angina Ludovici" (Ludwig's angina) a year later.
Beginning only in his seventies, the physician suffered several health problems, including a bladder stone removed during 1865 in two separate sessions a few months apart. Somewhat ironically, he died December 1865 a week after the onset of an unspecified neck inflammation, which was probably not the condition that bears his name.
Ludwig's angina
Ludwig's angina, otherwise known as angina ludovici, is a serious, potentially life-threatening cellulitis, or connective tissue infection, of the floor of the mouth, usually occurring in adults with concomitant dental infections. It is named after the German physician, Wilhelm Friedrich von Ludwig...
.
Early life
Ludwig was born in Uhlbach (near StuttgartStuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
) in the state of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
. His father was a clergyman and served as his childhood teacher. At the age of 10, he was sent to attend the Latin school
Latin School
Latin School may refer to:* Latin schools of Medieval Europe* These schools in the United States:** Boston Latin School, Boston, MA** Brooklyn Latin School, New York, NY** Brother Joseph C. Fox Latin School, Long Island, NY...
at Markgröningen
Markgröningen
Markgröningen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is known for its fine historic buildings, many in the Fachwerk German architectural style, and its annual Shepherds' Run...
. Ludwig showed promise in medicine at an early age, and at 14, he went to Neuenburg
Neuenburg
Neuenburg may refer to:*Neuenburg am Rhein, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany*Neuenburg, part of Zetel in Lower Saxony, Germany*Neuenbürg, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany*the German name for Neuchâtel, a city in Switzerland...
to continue his classical studies while beginning to study medicine under a surgeon. Ludwig received a certificate of proficiency in 1807, whereupon he went on to study surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, and obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
at the University of Tübingen. His performance was so exemplary that he was awarded a gold medal by King Frederick I in 1809—before graduating—for the advancement of surgery. In July 1811, Ludwig received his doctorate.
Unfortunately, before he could commence his study tour, Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
attempted to conquer Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
, and previously exempt students were called to service. Ludwig served initially as the doctor for 3rd Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
at the Schorndorf
Schorndorf
Schorndorf is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located c. 26 km east of Stuttgart. Its station is a the terminus of line S2 of the Stuttgart S-Bahn....
garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
, and subsequently as director for the Württemberg field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
at Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
in 1812.
He contracted typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
and was captured by the Russians; after recovering from typhus, he served as a Russian noblewoman's personal physician. Once he was freed from Russian capture in 1814, Ludwig returned home and directed a typhus hospital in Hohenheim
Hohenheim
Stuttgart-Hohenheim is a quarter of Plieningen, one of the 18 outer districts of Stuttgart, the state capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany...
, where he completed his military service in 1815.
Career
Shortly after leaving the military, Ludwig was honored with title of full professor of surgery and obstetrics at TübingenTübingen
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:...
in 1815. Before fulfilling it, however, he commenced his initially-planned study tour that had been put off in light of the war. Upon returning to Tübingen in 1816, Ludwig, having experienced the equipment available at other facilities in Germany, immediately supplemented Tübingen clinic's own supplies and reference literature with his own salary.
When supplies were similarly lacking in the following year, Ludwig petitioned the king for a higher salary. In response, Ludwig was appointed as one of King Wilhelm I's personal physicians (King Frederick had died the previous year). Ludwig remained in Tübingen until a successor could take his place in 1817.
When Ludwig went to Stuttgart to serve the king, he was quickly recognized as a great diagnostician, and he was soon promoted to be the royal family's chief physician.
He remained in Stuttgart for most of the remainder of his life; between 1835 and 1846, he served as director of the medical college, president of the Württemberg Medical Association, and chairman of the first Stuttgart scientific congress's medical section.
Ludwig published his now-famous paper on Ludwig's angina
Ludwig's angina
Ludwig's angina, otherwise known as angina ludovici, is a serious, potentially life-threatening cellulitis, or connective tissue infection, of the floor of the mouth, usually occurring in adults with concomitant dental infections. It is named after the German physician, Wilhelm Friedrich von Ludwig...
with no title in 1836. A colleague dubbed the condition "Angina Ludovici" (Ludwig's angina) a year later.
Later life
Ludwig retired in 1855 at the age of 65. He never married.Beginning only in his seventies, the physician suffered several health problems, including a bladder stone removed during 1865 in two separate sessions a few months apart. Somewhat ironically, he died December 1865 a week after the onset of an unspecified neck inflammation, which was probably not the condition that bears his name.