Carl Conrad Theodor Litzmann (7 October 1815 – 24 February 1890) was a German

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

and

gynecologist Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined area ...

born in

Gadebusch Gadebusch () is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in the district of Nordwestmecklenburg. Halfway between Lübeck, Schwerin and Wismar, it is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. The town is known for two notable monuments: the ''Stad ...

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a territory in Northern Germany held by the House of Mecklenburg residing at Schwerin. It was a sovereign member state of the German Confederation and became a federated state of the North German Conf ...

. He studied medicine in Halle,

Würzburg Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River. Würzburg is ...

and

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

. In 1845 became an associate professor at the

University of Greifswald The University of Greifswald (; german: Universität Greifswald), formerly also known as “Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald“, is a public research university located in Greifswald, Germany, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pom ...

, where during the following year he was appointed professor of

general pathology Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in t ...

and therapy. During this time period he published a study on the

physiology Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...

of pregnancy titled "''Physiologie der Schwangerschaft und des weiblichen Organismus überhaupt''" (1846). In 1849 he became a professor of

obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

and director of the ''Frauenklinik'' in

Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the J ...

. In 1862 he received the title of ''Etatsrat''. In 1862 his treatise on

osteomalacia Osteomalacia is a disease characterized by the softening of the bones caused by impaired bone metabolism primarily due to inadequate levels of available phosphate, calcium, and vitamin D, or because of resorption of calcium. The impairment of bone ...

, "''Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Osteomalacie''", was translated into English and published as "Contributions to the knowledge of osteomalacia".HathiTrust Digital Library
published works He is remembered for his work in

pelvimetry Pelvimetry is the measurement of the female pelvis. It can theoretically identify cephalo-pelvic disproportion, which is when the capacity of the pelvis is inadequate to allow the fetus to negotiate the birth canal. However, clinical evidence ind ...

, and among his better written efforts was an edition of

Gustav Adolf Michaelis Gustav Adolf Michaelis (9 July 1798 – 8 August 1848) was a German obstetrician who was a native of Kiel. He was the founder and establisher of the Michaelis’ Rhomboid. Biography Education and Career Gustav Adolf Michaelis was born on the 9 ...

' "''Das Enge Becken: nach eigenen Beobachtungen und Untersuchungen''" (The narrow pelvis, from personal observations and investigations). In 1884 Litzmann published "''Die Geburt bei engem Becken: nach eigenen Beobachtungen und Untersuchungen''" (The birth involving the narrow pelvis, from personal observations and investigations). In 1885 he returned to Berlin, where he devoted his time to literary pursuits. In this regard, he published "''E Geibel, aus Erinnerungen, Briefen und Tagebüchern''" (

Emanuel Geibel Emanuel von Geibel (17 October 18156 April 1884) was a German poet and playwright. Life Geibel was born at Lübeck, the son of a pastor. He was originally intended for his father's profession and studied at Bonn and Berlin, but his real interests ...

, from memories, letters and diaries; 1887) and "''Friedrich Hölderlins Leben in Briefen von und an Hölderlin''" (

Friedrich Hölderlin Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin (, ; ; 20 March 1770 – 7 June 1843) was a German poet and philosopher. Described by Norbert von Hellingrath as "the most German of Germans", Hölderlin was a key figure of German Romanticism. Part ...

's life, in letters to and from Hölderlin; 1890). His name is lent to "Litzmann's obliquity", which is another name for posterior asynclitism.Medical-dictionary
(definition)

References

Pagel: Biographical Dictionary excellent doctors of the nineteenth century
translated biography 1815 births 1890 deaths People from Nordwestmecklenburg People from the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin German gynaecologists German obstetricians Academic staff of the University of Kiel Academic staff of the University of Greifswald {{Germany-med-bio-stub