Burchard David Mauchart (19 April 1696 – 11 April 1751) was professor of

anatomy Anatomy () is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its ...

and

surgery Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...

at the

University of Tübingen The University of Tübingen, officially the Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen (german: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen; la, Universitas Eberhardina Carolina), is a public research university located in the city of Tübingen, Baden-Wü ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, and a pioneer in the field of

ophthalmology Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a medic ...

. In 1748 he became one of the first to document the eye disorder now known as

keratoconus Keratoconus (KC) is a disorder of the eye that results in progressive thinning of the cornea. This may result in blurry vision, double vision, nearsightedness, irregular astigmatism, and light sensitivity leading to poor quality-of-life. Usu ...

. His surviving works are now to be found in the form of

theses A thesis ( : theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: ...

by his students. He obtained his Lic. Med. degree in 1722 at the

. Mauchart also studied for two years in Paris from 1718-1720 under the oculist Woolhouse.

References

* ''Biographisches Lexikon der hervorragenden Ärzte,'' Urban & Schwarzenberg, 1962, vol. 4, pp. 121–122. * '' Jöcher's Allgemeine Gelehrten Lexicon,'' Georg Jöntzen, 1810–1813, vol. 4 (suppl.), col 1014. * ''Nouvelle Biographie Générale,'' Firmin, Didot Frères, 1852–1866, vol. 34, col 341–342. * ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie,'' Duncker & Humblot, 1967–1971, Reprint, vol. 20, p. 687. * ''Michaud Biographie Universelle'' (2nd Ed.), Delagrabe, 1843–1865, vol. 27, pp. 301–302. * ''Rebus Sci. Nat. Med.,'' 1752, 1(part 3), pp. 531–538. * F. Börner, ''Nachrichten von dem Vornehmsten Lebensumständen und Schriften Jetzlebender Berühmter Aerzte und Naturforscher,'' J. C. Meissner, 1749, vol. 1, pp. 345–363.

External links

* 1696 births 1751 deaths German ophthalmologists {{Germany-med-bio-stub