Johann Friedrich Ahlfeld (16 October 1843 in Alsleben – 25 May 1929 in

Marburg Marburg ( or ) is a university town in the German federal state (''Bundesland'') of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district (''Landkreis''). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has a population of approxima ...

) 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 surgic ...

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 ...

. From 1863 to 1867 he studied medicine at the universities of

Greifswald Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (german: Universitäts- und Hansestadt Greifswald, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rosto ...

and

Leipzig Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as ...

, where he was a pupil of Carl Siegmund Franz Credé. In 1868 he received his doctorate with the dissertation-thesis ''Über Zerreissung der Schamfuge während der Geburt''. In 1873 he obtained his habilitation for obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Leipzig, and in 1877 attained the title of associate professor. In 1881 he became a full professor at the

University of Giessen University of Giessen, official name Justus Liebig University Giessen (german: Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen), is a large public research university in Giessen, Hesse, Germany. It is named after its most famous faculty member, Justus von ...

, then two years later relocated to

as director of the university ''Frauenklinik'' and school for midwives.

Associated terms

* "Ahlfeld's method": A term formerly used for disinfection of the hands using hot water and alcohol. * "Alfeld's sign": Irregular

uterine contraction Uterine contractions are muscle contractions of the uterine smooth muscle that occur during the menstrual cycle and labour. Uterine contractions occur throughout the menstrual cycle in the non-pregnant state and throughout gestation. Throughout ...

after the third month of pregnancy.

Selected works

* ''Die Technik der Schwangerenuntersuchung'', 1873 – The technique of pregnancy investigation. * ''Lehrbuch der Geburtshilfe zur wissenschaftlichen und praktischen Ausbildung'', (1874, 2nd edition 1898) – Textbook of obstetrics for scientific and practical training. * ''Die Missbildungen des Menschen; eine systematische Darstellung der beim Menschen angeboren vorkommenden Missbildungen und Erklärung ihrer Entstehungsweise'' (2 parts, 1880–82) – Malformations of humans; a systematic presentation of

congenital malformation A birth defect, also known as a congenital disorder, is an abnormal condition that is present at childbirth, birth regardless of its cause. Birth defects may result in disability, disabilities that may be physical disability, physical, intellect ...

s occurring in humans and explanations of their mode of origin. * ''Abwartende Methode oder Credéscher Handgriff'', 1888 – Wait-and-see approach or Crede's maneuver. * ''Die Desinfection der Hand des Geburtshelfers und Chirurgen'', 1901 – Disinfection of the hands for the obstetrician and surgeon.Most widely held works by Johann Friedrich Ahlfeld
WorldCat Identities

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfeld, Johann Friedrich 1843 births 1929 deaths People from Salzlandkreis People from the Province of Saxony German gynaecologists German obstetricians Leipzig University alumni University of Greifswald alumni Academic staff of Leipzig University Academic staff of the University of Giessen Academic staff of the University of Marburg