A journey in the Vienna Medical History

Let me take you on a tour about the Vienna Medical History!

Did you know that the AB0 system of blood groups was discovered 1901 by Karl Landsteiner (1868-1940) in Vienna? The first partial gastric removal, the first esophagectomy and the first laryngectomy were done by Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) in Vienna. Vienna is also the cradle of the talking therapy, the psychoanalysis, practiced by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). Earlier in time, in the 18th century Vienna had one of the first institutions for mental ill patients (vulgo Narrenturm) financed by private funds of the ruler. The policy of Red Vienna was for social services and assistance as a right for all who need them and today, we all benefit from the work of some distinguished persons like Julius Tandler (1869-1936).

The Vienna University founded in 1365 was the first in today’s German-speaking Europe and the Faculty of Medicine was the first to be established. When under the reign of Maria Theresia Boerhaave’s pupil Gerard van Swieten (1700-1772) from Leiden came to Vienna, it achieved world-wide reputation. He reformed the teaching of Medicine, introduced bedside courses, practical observation, research and therapy of diseases and epidemics and laid the fundaments of the first Vienna School of Medicine. The General Hospital, opened in 1784 with its various clinics, became the main centre for medical research in Vienna and paved the path for the second Vienna School of Medicine in the 19th century. Important representatives of this school were Karl Rokitansky (1804-1878), Josef Skoda (1805-1881), Ferdinand von Hebra (1816-1880), Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818-1865), Theodor Billroth (1829-1894), as well as the winners of the Nobel Prize for Medicine Karl Landsteiner (1868-1940), Robert Bárány (1876-1936) and Julius Wagner-Jauregg (1857-1940).

Learn more about this interesting subject on my Vienna Medical History Tour. Admire the inside of the majestic main building of the University of Vienna and its arcaded courtyard. Walk around the grounds of the old General Hospital and the Josephinum.

Around 1900 science, music and art were done in Vienna on a very high level. They were enjoyed with great pleasure and applied not only by the Viennese, but also by people from all over the world. Scholars and students came to Vienna to study medicine or to attend lectures of pioneers in the field of Pathology, Dermatology, modern Surgery, Immunohematology and other subjects. The interaction of science and culture in Vienna around 1900 were extremely formative for the world. Learn more about this subject on my Vienna 1900 Tour.

Supplement your knowledge about Vienna

from a different perspective and have a good time with me!