Johann Lucas Boër
Encyclopedia
Johann Lucas Boër originally Johann Lucas Boogers (sometimes spelled Rogers Lucas Johann Boër) was a German medical doctor and obstetrician.
with Carl Caspar von Siebold
. He moved to Vienna
in 1771 where he became Magister in 1778. The surgeon Anton Josef Rechberger assigned Boogers to obstetrics and he soon worked at the maternity ward in Rechberger's St. Marxer Hospital. Boogers became surgeon of the Orphanage (or Foundling home) in 1784. He attracted the attention of the Emperor Joseph II
who influenced him in 1785 to change surname from Boogers to Boër. Kaiser Joseph II arranged for Boër to make a study trip to Holland, England, France and Italy in 1785-88.
Upon returning to Vienna he became Imperial Surgeon to the Emperor and in 1789 director of Vienna General Hospital
's charity Maternity Ward. From 1789-1822 Boër was assigned the teaching post for practical instruction at the maternity ward. In 1808 he became Ordinary (First) Professor.
In 1794 Boër became doctor of medicine and surgery honoris causa at the University of Vienna. In 1817 he succeeded Rafael Steideles as the teaching chair of theoretical obstetrics at the University of Vienna
.
In 1790 the wife of the later Emperor Franz II
died during childbirth for which attempts were made to hold him responsible. He was cleared of accusations of any fault or negligence however, and regained the confidence of the Emperor Joseph II
.
or administered drugs to birthgiving women, instead he prescribed nutritious food, fresh air, and exercise. He is considered the founder of obstetrics at the University of Vienna and made it a contemporary centre of modern teachings.
The trend Boër represented was eventually losing favour to an approach emphasizing active intervention by doctors. Opposition forced him to resign in 1822. He left the post discouraged of what was then regarded as an enormous mortality rate at the maternity clinic. He was succeeded by professor Johann Klein
who introduced teachings based on the new field of pathological anatomy.
Sieben Bücher über natürliche Geburtshilfe, (Seven books on natural obstetrics) in Latin 1830, in German 1834
Rogers Lucas Johann Boër, Abhandlungen und Versuche zur Begrundung einer neuen, einfachen und naturgemässen Geburtshülfe (Dissertations and experiments in support of a new, simple and natural obstetrics[obstetrical approach] ) Vienna: von Mösk, 1810
Professional life
Johann Lukas Boogers studied in WürzburgWürzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
with Carl Caspar von Siebold
Karl Kaspar von Siebold
Karl Kaspar von Siebold was a German surgeon and obstetrician who was a native of Nideggen. From 1760 to 1763 he studied medicine in Würzburg, and afterwards furthered his medical education in Paris, London and Leiden. In 1769 he became a professor of anatomy, surgery and obstetrics at the...
. He moved to 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...
in 1771 where he became Magister in 1778. The surgeon Anton Josef Rechberger assigned Boogers to obstetrics and he soon worked at the maternity ward in Rechberger's St. Marxer Hospital. Boogers became surgeon of the Orphanage (or Foundling home) in 1784. He attracted the attention of the Emperor Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
who influenced him in 1785 to change surname from Boogers to Boër. Kaiser Joseph II arranged for Boër to make a study trip to Holland, England, France and Italy in 1785-88.
Upon returning to Vienna he became Imperial Surgeon to the Emperor and in 1789 director of Vienna General Hospital
Vienna General Hospital
The Vienna General Hospital is the University medical center of the city of Vienna, Austria. The AKH is the largest hospital of Austria and Europe, the second largest hospital in the world, and at 85-m high is one of the tallest hospital buildings in the world...
's charity Maternity Ward. From 1789-1822 Boër was assigned the teaching post for practical instruction at the maternity ward. In 1808 he became Ordinary (First) Professor.
In 1794 Boër became doctor of medicine and surgery honoris causa at the University of Vienna. In 1817 he succeeded Rafael Steideles as the teaching chair of theoretical obstetrics 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 1790 the wife of the later Emperor Franz II
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
Francis II was the last Holy Roman Emperor, ruling from 1792 until 6 August 1806, when he dissolved the Empire after the disastrous defeat of the Third Coalition by Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz...
died during childbirth for which attempts were made to hold him responsible. He was cleared of accusations of any fault or negligence however, and regained the confidence of the Emperor Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
.
Significance and demise
Faithful to the philosophy and principles of his mentor Anton Josef Rechberger, Professor Boër represented the conservative trend in obstetrics for which he was an outstanding advocate. He strongly discouraged use of forceps and other instruments and advocated the practice of natural parturition. He did not draw bloodBloodletting
Bloodletting is the withdrawal of often little quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" the proper balance of which maintained health...
or administered drugs to birthgiving women, instead he prescribed nutritious food, fresh air, and exercise. He is considered the founder of obstetrics at the University of Vienna and made it a contemporary centre of modern teachings.
The trend Boër represented was eventually losing favour to an approach emphasizing active intervention by doctors. Opposition forced him to resign in 1822. He left the post discouraged of what was then regarded as an enormous mortality rate at the maternity clinic. He was succeeded by professor Johann Klein
Johann Klein
Johann Klein was Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Salzburg and at the University of Vienna. Johann Baptist Chiari was his son-in-law. In Vienna, he was succeeded by professor Carl Braun in 1856....
who introduced teachings based on the new field of pathological anatomy.
Private life
Johann Lukas Boër married Eleonora Jacquet in 1793. She was daughter of the actor Carl Jacquet and sister to actress Antonie Adamberger. Boër is buried in the Schmelzer Friedhof Cemetery in Vienna.Works and legacy
- In 1894 the street Boergasse in WienWienWien is the German language name for Vienna, the city and federal state in Austria.* Wien , in Vienna, Austria* Theater an der Wien, a theater in Vienna located at the former river WienWien may also refer to:...
- MeidlingMeidlingMeidling is the 12th district of Vienna . It is located just southwest of the central districts, south of the Wienfluss, west of the Gürtel belt, and east and southeast of Schönbrunn palace...
was named after the famous obstetrician.
External links
Sources
- This article is based on a translation from the German Wikipedia article merged with the smaller English Wikipedia article, on the 2008-06-10. Wiki-links from the German version are kept.
German sources
- R. Hussian: Boers Leben und Wirken, 1838
- Wolfgang Dietrich Heinlein: Johann Lukas Boër, der Begründer der „natürlichen“ Geburtshilfe (1751-1835). Memminger, Würzburg 1935
- E. Vogl: Der Streit um Boër. Dissertation, Wien 1943
- Gabriela Schmidt: Johann Lukas Boër; in: Felix Czeike: Historisches Lexikon Wien Bd. 1. Kremayr & Scheriau, Wien 1992