Hermann Senator
Encyclopedia
Hermann Senator was a German internist who was a native of Gnesen
in the Prussia
n Province of Posen
(now Gniezno, Wielkopolska, Poland). He studied medicine in Berlin
, where he received his medical doctorate in 1857. Among his instructors in Berlin were Johannes Peter Müller
(1801-1858), Johann Lukas Schönlein
(1793-1864) and Ludwig Traube
(1818-1876). In 1875 he became chief physician in the internal medicine
department at the Augusta-Hospital, and in 1881 became head physician at the Berlin Charité
.
After the death of Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs
(1819-1885), he became head of the "first medical clinic" at Berlin for a few months. In 1888 his department at the Charité was made into the "third medical clinic", expanded and made a part of a policlinic with Senator as its director. Beginning in 1872 he was co-editor of Centralblatt für die medizinischen Wissenschaften.
Hermann Senator made several contributions in internal medicine
, particularly his research in the field of nephrology
. He published an influential study of fever
, and also penned works on diabetes and albuminuria
. In 1868 he introduced his theory of "autointoxication", of which he speculated that "self-infection" originating in the intestines could be a source of disease elsewhere in the human body. He also believed that autointoxication could be the root cause of certain mental disorders.
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
in the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Province of Posen
Province of Posen
The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
(now Gniezno, Wielkopolska, Poland). He studied medicine in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he received his medical doctorate in 1857. Among his instructors in Berlin were Johannes Peter Müller
Johannes Peter Müller
Johannes Peter Müller , was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, and ichthyologist not only known for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge.-Early years and education:...
(1801-1858), Johann Lukas Schönlein
Johann Lukas Schönlein
Johann Lukas Schönlein was a German naturalist, and professor of medicine, born in Bamberg. He studied medicine at Landshut, Jena, Göttingen, and Würzburg...
(1793-1864) and Ludwig Traube
Ludwig Traube (physician)
Ludwig Traube was a German physician and co-founder of the experimental pathology in Germany.-Biography:...
(1818-1876). In 1875 he became chief physician in the internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
department at the Augusta-Hospital, and in 1881 became head physician at the Berlin Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
.
After the death of Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs
Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs
Friedrich Theodor von Frerichs was a German pathologist who was born in Aurich. After earning his medical degree from the University of Göttingen in 1841, he returned to Aurich and spent the next four years there as an optician...
(1819-1885), he became head of the "first medical clinic" at Berlin for a few months. In 1888 his department at the Charité was made into the "third medical clinic", expanded and made a part of a policlinic with Senator as its director. Beginning in 1872 he was co-editor of Centralblatt für die medizinischen Wissenschaften.
Hermann Senator made several contributions in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
, particularly his research in the field of nephrology
Nephrology
Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
. He published an influential study of fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
, and also penned works on diabetes and albuminuria
Albuminuria
Albuminuria is a pathological condition wherein albumin is present in the urine. It is a type of proteinuria.Measurement=The amount of protein being lost in the urine can be quantified by collecting the urine for 24 hours, measuring a sample of the pooled urine, and extrapolating to the volume...
. In 1868 he introduced his theory of "autointoxication", of which he speculated that "self-infection" originating in the intestines could be a source of disease elsewhere in the human body. He also believed that autointoxication could be the root cause of certain mental disorders.
Selected publications
- Untersuchungen über den fieberhaften Process und seine Behandlung.
- Die Krankheiten des Bewegungsapparates. Diabetes mellitus und insipidus (Diseases of the musculoskeletal systemMusculoskeletal systemA musculoskeletal system is an organ system that gives animals the ability to move using the muscular and skeletal systems...
. Diabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitusDiabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and diabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidusDiabetes insipidus is a condition characterized by excessive thirst and excretion of large amounts of severely diluted urine, with reduction of fluid intake having no effect on the concentration of the urine. There are several different types of DI, each with a different cause...
. Included in Hugo Wilhelm von ZiemssenHugo Wilhelm von ZiemssenHugo von Ziemssen was a German physician, born at Greifswald. He studied there, at Berlin, and at Würzburg. In 1863 he was called to Erlangen as professor of pathology and director of the clinic, and in 1874 to Munich as director of the general hospital...
's Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. 2nd edition, 1879. - Die Erkrankungen der Nieren. (Diseases of the Kidneys) In: Carl Wilhelm Hermann Nothnagel's Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie
See also
- Hermann Senator @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...
- The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry