William Ludwig Detmold
Encyclopedia
William Ludwig Detmold was a German-American surgeon
who introduced orthopedic surgery
into the United States
.
. William received his medical degree from the University of Göttingen in 1830, and enlisted as surgeon in the royal Hanoverian grenadier-guard. He went to the United States on leave of absence in 1837, and sent back his resignation from New York City
.
Detmold introduced orthopedic surgery into the United States, and as early as 1841 he established an orthopedic clinic in New York, having previously published an article on orthopedic surgery in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. He wrote infrequently for the medical journals and managed his dispensary until the beginning of the Civil War
, when he assisted in the organization of the United States Army Medical Corps. He became professor of military surgery and hygiene at Columbia
in 1862. In 1865 his title was changed to professor of clinical and military surgery. In 1866, the war being over, military surgery lost its prominence, and he was made professor emeritus.
During the war, he introduced a knife and fork for one-handed men, which was put by Surgeon General Barnes on the supply list, under the name of “Detmold's knife.” In 1884, he was a founder and the first president of the New York County Medical Association, and at one time he was president of the Medical Relief Fund for Widows and Orphans.
He also published “Opening an Abscess in the Brain,” in the Journal of the Medical Sciences for February 1850.
, also emigrated to the United States
. He was an engineer, and among his projects he supervised the building and design of the New York Crystal Palace
.
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 introduced orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
His father was a physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. William received his medical degree from the University of Göttingen in 1830, and enlisted as surgeon in the royal Hanoverian grenadier-guard. He went to the United States on leave of absence in 1837, and sent back his resignation from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Detmold introduced orthopedic surgery into the United States, and as early as 1841 he established an orthopedic clinic in New York, having previously published an article on orthopedic surgery in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences. He wrote infrequently for the medical journals and managed his dispensary until the beginning of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when he assisted in the organization of the United States Army Medical Corps. He became professor of military surgery and hygiene at Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1862. In 1865 his title was changed to professor of clinical and military surgery. In 1866, the war being over, military surgery lost its prominence, and he was made professor emeritus.
During the war, he introduced a knife and fork for one-handed men, which was put by Surgeon General Barnes on the supply list, under the name of “Detmold's knife.” In 1884, he was a founder and the first president of the New York County Medical Association, and at one time he was president of the Medical Relief Fund for Widows and Orphans.
Publications
He published a book on the treatment of club foot and analogous subjects that was one of the milestones of the pre-Listerian epochs of orthopedics.He also published “Opening an Abscess in the Brain,” in the Journal of the Medical Sciences for February 1850.
Family
His brother, Christian Edward DetmoldChristian Edward Detmold
Christian Edward Detmold was an engineer.-Biography:He was educated at the military academy in Hanover, and came to New York in 1826, with the intention of entering the Brazilian army. Unfavorable accounts of the conditions in Brazil induced him to remain in the United States, and he became well...
, also emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was an engineer, and among his projects he supervised the building and design of the New York Crystal Palace
New York Crystal Palace
New York Crystal Palace was an exhibition building constructed for the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in New York City in 1853, which was under the presidency of Mayor Jacob Aaron Westervelt...
.