97th DOG Annual Meeting 1999
V282
THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ALBRECHT VON GRAEFE (BERLIN) AND FERDINAND VON ARLT (VIENNA)
F. Krogmann
Graefe wrote: "ARLT introduced me to ophthalmology ...; ... he was the first one to show me what it meant to be an eye-surgeon ... I think if I had not known ARLT, I would have perhaps not returned to Berlin as an ophthalmologist." These words document the not insignificant influence of Arlt on Graefe and give just in Berlin a good reason for taking a closer look at the connections between these pioneers of ophthalmology of the 19th century. Graefe sat in on Arlt's lectures in Prague. This acquaintance resulted finally friendship which inspired mutualy their scientific work. First Arlt (born in 1812) was the teacher of Graefe (born in 1828). Already in 1854, Arlt became a member of the editorial staff at the Archives of Ophthalmology created by Graefe and still published today. Arlt praised the successes of Graefe in treating glaucoma by iridectomy as greatest surprise in his medical life. He acknowledged iridectomy as the best therapeutical method of the century. In the year 1858 already, Arlt took part at the sometimes jolly "Heidelberg-meetings", founded by Graefe. However Arlt missed the constituting meeting of the Ophthalmological Society in the year 1863 because there was an irritation between him and Graefe which could be cleared completly soon after. The preserved letters from Graefe to Arlt offer an interesting aspect of the connection between Arlt and Graefe. Graefe died in 1870. Arlt was shocked about the early death of his younger friend "and took again brilliant leadership in practical ophthalmology, he remained unchallenged until the end of his life." Arlt detected the reason of short-sightedness, Graefe created iridectomy - which of the two earns more gratitude? In my opinion, this is a question which is not necessary to be answered - more over we see here exemplaryly the synthesis of the medical talents of these two men from Berlin and Vienna with its positive impacts on the curation of eye-sick people worldwide.
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