Ernst Wertheim was an Austrian gynecologist who was born in Graz

Graz

The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...

. In 1888 he received his doctorate from the University of Graz

University of Graz

The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....

, and subsequently became an assistant in the department of general and experimental pathology

Experimental pathology

Experimental pathology, also known as investigative pathology is the scientific study of disease processes through the microscopic or molecular examination of organs, tissues, cells, or body fluids from diseased organisms. It is closely related, both historically and in modern academic settings, to...

. In 1889 he worked under Otto Kahler

Otto Kahler

Otto Kahler was an Austrian physician. Born and trained in Prague, he is best known for describing multiple myeloma, a hematological malignancy, which is called "Kahler's disease" in his honor in several countries...

 (1849-1893) at the Second University Clinic in Vienna

University of Vienna

The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...

, and in 1892 became habilitated for gynecology and obstetrics

Obstetrics

Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...

. In 1897 he became chief surgeon in the gynecological department at Bettina Pavilions der Elisabeth-Klinik, and in 1910 he became director of the First Women's University Clinic in Vienna

Vienna

Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...

. He was the son of chemist Theodor Wertheim

Theodor Wertheim

Theodor Wertheim was an Austrian chemist born in Vienna.He was privatdozent in Vienna, and a professor at the University of Pest from 1853 to 1860. Afterwards he returned to Vienna, and beginning in 1861 worked at the University of Graz. In May, 1864 he moved back to Vienna, where he died soon...

 (1820-1864), who is remembered for chemical studies of garlic

Garlic

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...

.

In 1898, Wertheim performed the first radical abdominal hysterectomy

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...

 for cervical cancer

Cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...

. This operation involved removal of the uterus

Uterus

The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

, parametrium

Parametrium

In women, the supravaginal portion of the cervix is separated in front from the bladder by fibrous tissue, the parametrium , which extends also on to its sides and laterally between the layers of the broad ligaments....

, tissues surrounding the upper vagina

Vagina

The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...

, and pelvic lymph nodes. Afterwards, Wertheim surgery became a fairly common, although risky procedure for cervical cancer. He also did important research of gonorrhea

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The usual symptoms in men are burning with urination and penile discharge. Women, on the other hand, are asymptomatic half the time or have vaginal discharge and pelvic pain...

 in the female genital tract, and was the first physician to demonstrate the presence of gonococcus in the peritoneum

Peritoneum

The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...

. Wertheim also discovered that gonococcus grows best on a culture of agar

Agar

Agar or agar-agar is a gelatinous substance derived from a polysaccharide that accumulates in the cell walls of agarophyte red algae. Throughout history into modern times, agar has been chiefly used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Asia and also as a solid substrate to contain culture medium...

mixed with human blood-serum.