Friedrich Wilhelm Scanzoni von Lichtenfels (21 December 1821 – 12 June 1891) was a German

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 ...

and

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 ...

born in

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and List of cities in the Czech Republic, largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 milli ...

, in the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence ...

. He studied medicine in Prague, and spent most of his professional career as chair of obstetrics (1850–1888) at the

University of Würzburg The Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (also referred to as the University of Würzburg, in German ''Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg'') is a public research university in Würzburg, Germany. The University of Würzburg is one of ...

, where he succeeded Franz Kiwisch von Rotterau. Scanzoni was a leading authority of obstetrics in 19th-century Europe. He is best remembered today for the birthing procedure known as the "Scanzoni maneuver". In 1849 he was a major factor in the appointment of

Rudolf Virchow Rudolf Ludwig Carl Virchow (; or ; 13 October 18215 September 1902) was a German physician, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist, writer, editor, and politician. He is known as "the father of modern pathology" and as the founder ...

to the chair of

pathological anatomy Anatomical pathology (''Commonwealth'') or Anatomic pathology (''U.S.'') is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and molecular examination o ...

at the

. He was an ardent critic of

Ignaz Semmelweis Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (; hu, Semmelweis Ignác Fülöp ; 1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865) was a Hungarian physician and scientist, who was an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "saviour of mothers", he discovered that t ...

. However, in later years, he became convinced Semmelweis was correct, even if he did not like to admit it.

Associated eponyms

* "Scanzoni maneuver": (Scanzoni forceps technique) A method of applying an obstetrical

forceps Forceps (plural forceps or considered a plural noun without a singular, often a pair of forceps; the Latin plural ''forcipes'' is no longer recorded in most dictionaries) are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Fo ...

in order to rotate a

fetus A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal dev ...

. * "Scanzoni's second os": (pathologic retraction ring) A constriction at the junction of the thinned lower uterine segment with the thick retracted upper uterine segment. This condition results from obstructed labor, and is a sign of threatened rupture of the uterus.

Selected writings

* ''Die geburtshilflichen Operationen'' (The obstetrical operation), 1852. * ''Beiträge zur Geburtskunde und Gynäkologie'' (Contribution to obstetrics and gynecology), seven volumes (1854–73). * ''Die Krankheiten der weiblichen Brüste und Harnwerkzeuge'', second edition 1859. * ''Kompendium der Geburtshilfe'' (Compendium of midwifery), second edition 1861. * ''Die chronische Metritis'' (Chronic

metritis Metritis is inflammation of the wall of the uterus, whereas endometritis is inflammation of the functional lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. The term pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is often used for metritis. Definitions Postpart ...

), 1863. * ''Lehrbuch für Geburtshilfe'' (Textbook for obstetrics), fourth edition 1867. * ''Lehrbuch der Krankheiten der weiblichen Sexualorgane'' (Textbook on diseases of the female sex organs), fifth edition 1875.Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon, Band 17. Leipzig 1909, S. 657
– biography in German

References

* "This article is based on a translation of an equivalent article at the German Wikipedia, whose sources include
ADB:Scanzoni von Lichtenfels, Friedrich
Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. 1821 births 1891 deaths 19th-century German physicians German obstetricians Academic staff of the University of Würzburg Habsburg Bohemian nobility German Bohemian people Physicians from Prague Nobility from Prague {{Germany-med-bio-stub

Associated eponyms

Selected writings

See also

References