Joachim Friedrich Henckel (4 March 1712 in Preussisch Holland – 1 July 1779) was a

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

n surgeon at

Charité The Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Charité – Berlin University of Medicine) is one of Europe's largest university hospitals, affiliated with Humboldt University and Free University Berlin. With numerous Collaborative Research Cen ...

hospital in

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 ...

.Ernst Gurlt: Henckel, Joachim Friedrich. In: General German Biography (ADB). Band 11 Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1880, pp. 730 ff. His publications include ''Medical and Surgical Observations'' (1744).Thomas, J
The Universal Dictionary of Biography and Mythology, Vol. II
p. 1161 (1887) In 1769, Henckel conducted the first

caesarean section Caesarean section, also known as C-section or caesarean delivery, is the surgical procedure by which one or more babies are delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen, often performed because vaginal delivery would put the baby or mo ...

to incise the linea alba on a living woman. The child survived, though the mother later died, probably due to

peritonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part or ...

. The surgery drew so much attention that King Frederick II named Henckel professor of surgery and a Court Counselor. From 1773 to 1779, Henckel served as director of the Charité.MT Shepherd, David M
MT Shepherd, David M.: Comments on obstetrics in the 18th Century. Joachim Friedrich Henckel (1712–1779). The first caesarean section in the living 225 years ago in Berlin
International journal of gynecology, ISSN 0044-4197, 118 Born (1996), No. 3, pp. 121-128David, Matthias * Ebert, Andreas D. (eds.
Geschichte der Berliner Universitats-frauenkliniken
p. 73 (2009) (in German)

References

1712 births German surgeons 1779 deaths People from Pasłęk People from East Prussia Physicians of the Charité {{Germany-med-bio-stub