Richard von Volkmann (17 August 1830 – 28 November 1889) was a prominent

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...

and author of poetry and fiction. Some of his works were illustrated by his son, Hans, a well known artist.

Biography

He was born in

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 wel ...

on 17 August 1830, the son of physiologist A.W. Volkmann. Richard entered medical school 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 ...

and graduated in 1854. In 1867 he was appointed Professor of Surgery and Director of the Surgical Clinic at Halle where he remained until retirement. He was one of the most prominent surgeons of his day. He died in

Jena Jena () is a German city and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, while the city itself has a popu ...

Achievements

* Performed the first excision of

carcinoma Carcinoma is a malignancy that develops from epithelial cells. Specifically, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that arises from cells originating in the endodermal, mesodermal ...

of the

rectum The rectum is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals, and the Gastrointestinal tract, gut in others. The adult human rectum is about long, and begins at the rectosigmoid junction (the end of the s ...

in 1878. * Described Volkmann's Ischaemic Contracture in 1881. * Devised a splint and a spoon which bear his name. * His treatment of articular

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

heralded attempts at preventive surgery. * In 1894 he described three patients with

scrotal The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum co ...

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

who worked with

paraffin Paraffin may refer to: Substances * Paraffin wax, a white or colorless soft solid that is used as a lubricant and for other applications * Liquid paraffin (drug), a very highly refined mineral oil used in cosmetics and for medical purposes * Alkan ...

and

tar Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. "a dark brown or black bit ...

. * He was an early supporter of

Joseph Lister Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, (5 April 182710 February 1912) was a British surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventative medicine. Joseph Lister revolutionised the craft of s ...

, and helped the introduction of antiseptic surgery throughout

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 ...

. * He invented the surgical retractor, now known as the Volkmann Retractor.

Writings

He edited (1870–89) ''Beiträge zur Chirurgie'', and contributed to

Franz von Pitha Franz Freiherr von Pitha (born ''Jiří František Piťha'', 8 February 1810 – 29 December 1875) was an Austrian surgeon. He was rector of the Charles University in Prague in 1854–1855. Biography Pitha was born in Řakom near Klatovy (today ...

and

Theodor Billroth Christian Albert Theodor Billroth (26 April 18296 February 1894) was a German surgeon and amateur musician. As a surgeon, he is generally regarded as the founding father of modern abdominal surgery. As a musician, he was a close friend and conf ...

's ''Handbuch der Chirurgie'' a section on diseases of the locomotory organs (1865–72). He wrote ''Bemerkungen über einige vom Krebs zu trennende Geschwülste'' (1858). Under the pseudonym Richard Leander, he wrote: * ''Träumereien an französischen Kaminen'' (Reveries at French chimneys, 1871; 24th ed. 1894), a work for young people * ''Aus der Burschenzeit'' (From boyhood, 1876) * ''Gedichte'' (Poems, 3d ed. 1885) * ''Kleine Geschichten'' (Little stories, 2d ed. 1888) * ''Alte und neue Troubadourlieder'' (Old and new

troubador A troubadour (, ; oc, trobador ) was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word ''troubadour'' is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a ''trobairit ...

songs, 2d ed. 1890)

References

Sources

* * This work in turn cites: ** Krause, ''Zur Erinnerung an Richard von Volkmann'' (Berlin, 1890) *

External links

*
Träumereien an französischen Kaminen ~ Reveries at French Firesides - English translation

{{DEFAULTSORT:Volkmann, Richard von 1830 births 1889 deaths German surgeons Physicians from Leipzig People from the Kingdom of Saxony Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg alumni Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg faculty University of Giessen alumni Humboldt University of Berlin alumni Writers from Leipzig