Georg Joseph Beer
Encyclopedia
Georg Joseph Beer was an Austria
n ophthalmologist . He is credited with introducing a flap operation for treatment of cataract
s (Beer's operation), as well as popularizing the instrument used to perform the surgery (Beer's knife).
(1745-1818), his primary focus turned to the field of ophthalmology
. However, his professional relationship with Barth was never close, and he later referred to his years with Barth as his "years of torture" (Barth - mentor and tormentor). The final break in their relationship was caused by Barth's favour of Johann Adam Schmidt
(1759-1809), who later became a renowned ophthalmologist.
Eventually he built a successful practice despite the obstacles created by Barth, who publicly expressed doubts in regards to Beer's qualifications. Beer became a popular teacher, and attracted a number of students who later excelled in the field of ophthalmology. Among his better known pupils were William Mackenzie
, Philipp Franz von Walther
, Carl Ferdinand von Graefe (1787-1840), Johann Nepomuk Fischer (1777-1847), Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck
(1776-1851), Anton von Rosas
(1791-1855), Maximilian Joseph von Chelius
(1794-1876), Francesco Flarer (1791-1850) and Christoph Friedrich Jaeger Ritter von Jaxtthal
(1784-1871), his future son-in-law.
In 1812 Beer was appointed to the chair of ophthalmology at the University of Vienna
. In 1818 he suffered a stroke which left him incapacitated and eventually led to his death three years later. During his career he sought to liberate ophthalmology from dogmatic beliefs held at the time, and to establish ophthalmology on a foundation of careful observation. His best written work was the celebrated Lehre von den Augenkrankheiten, als Leitfaden zu seinen öffentlichen Vorlesungen entworfen, which was used as an important reference in ophthalmic medicine for many years afterwards.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n ophthalmologist . He is credited with introducing a flap operation for treatment of cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
s (Beer's operation), as well as popularizing the instrument used to perform the surgery (Beer's knife).
Career
Initially a theology student, in 1786 he earned his medical doctorate in Vienna. Under the guidance of Joseph BarthJoseph Barth
Joseph Barth October 28, 1746, Valletta, Malta - April 7, 1818, Vienna, Austria, was a notable 18th century ophthalmologist.-Education:Anatomical & Surgical School at Sacra Infermeria, Valletta , Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome , University of Vienna...
(1745-1818), his primary focus turned to the field of ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
. However, his professional relationship with Barth was never close, and he later referred to his years with Barth as his "years of torture" (Barth - mentor and tormentor). The final break in their relationship was caused by Barth's favour of Johann Adam Schmidt
Johann Adam Schmidt
Johann Adam Schmidt was a German-Austrian surgeon and ophthalmologist who was a native of Aub, a town near Würzburg. He began his medical career as an army Unterchirurg , and later studied ophthalmology under Joseph Barth in Vienna...
(1759-1809), who later became a renowned ophthalmologist.
Eventually he built a successful practice despite the obstacles created by Barth, who publicly expressed doubts in regards to Beer's qualifications. Beer became a popular teacher, and attracted a number of students who later excelled in the field of ophthalmology. Among his better known pupils were William Mackenzie
William Mackenzie (ophthalmologist)
William Mackenzie was a Scottish ophthalmologist. He wrote Practical Treatise of the Diseases of the Eye, one of the first British textbooks of ophthalmology....
, Philipp Franz von Walther
Philipp Franz von Walther
Philipp Franz von Walther was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist who was a native of Burrweiler.In 1803 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Landshut where he was a student of Georg Joseph Beer , and subsequently was a professor at the Universities of Bamberg, Landshut, Bonn...
, Carl Ferdinand von Graefe (1787-1840), Johann Nepomuk Fischer (1777-1847), Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck
Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck
Konrad Johann Martin Langenbeck was a German surgeon, ophthalmologist and anatomist who was a native of Horneburg....
(1776-1851), Anton von Rosas
Anton von Rosas
Anton von Rosas was an Austrian ophthalmologist born in Pécs in Hungary.He studied medicine at the Universities of Pest and Vienna, earning his doctorate in 1814. He later became an assistant to Georg Joseph Beer at the University Eye Clinic in Vienna, and from 1819-21 was director of the...
(1791-1855), Maximilian Joseph von Chelius
Maximilian Joseph von Chelius
Maximilian Joseph von Chelius was a German surgeon and ophthalmologist who was born in Mannheim. He received his medical doctorate in 1812 at the University of Heidelberg, and afterwards was a civilian and military physician in Munich, and was an army surgeon in the last phases of the Napoleonic...
(1794-1876), Francesco Flarer (1791-1850) and Christoph Friedrich Jaeger Ritter von Jaxtthal
Friedrich Jäger von Jaxtthal
Christoph Friedrich Jäger Ritter von Jaxtthal was an Austrian ophthalmologist who was a native of Kirchberg an der Jagst. He studied medicine in Vienna and Landshut, and in 1809 was a physician in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1812 he returned to Vienna, where he received his medical degree at the...
(1784-1871), his future son-in-law.
In 1812 Beer was appointed to the chair of ophthalmology at the University of 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...
. In 1818 he suffered a stroke which left him incapacitated and eventually led to his death three years later. During his career he sought to liberate ophthalmology from dogmatic beliefs held at the time, and to establish ophthalmology on a foundation of careful observation. His best written work was the celebrated Lehre von den Augenkrankheiten, als Leitfaden zu seinen öffentlichen Vorlesungen entworfen, which was used as an important reference in ophthalmic medicine for many years afterwards.