John Peter Mettauer
Encyclopedia
John Peter Mettauer was an American surgeon
and gynecologist born in Prince Edward County, Virginia
. He was the son of surgeon Francis Joseph Mettauer.
Mettauer was a pupil at Hampden-Sydney College
, followed by studies at the University of Pennsylvania
, where he obtained his medical doctorate in 1809. In 1837 he founded a private medical school located between Prince Edward
Court House and Kingsville, Virginia
. In 1847 he allied his school with Randolph-Macon College
, becoming the first medical department at Randolph-Macon.
Mettauer is remembered for his development of innovative surgical practices. Along with his two sons, he trained many physicians at his private medical school. In the 1830s and 1840s, he did pioneer work involving closure of vesicovaginal fistula
e (VVF). He is also given credit for performing the first cleft palate operation in the Americas (1827).
Mettauer also designed and developed his own surgical instruments, some of which are on display at the Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum at Hampden-Sydney College. Also, The John Peter Mettauer Award for Excellence in Research is a prestiguous award issued by Hampden-Sydney College.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and gynecologist born in Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
. He was the son of surgeon Francis Joseph Mettauer.
Mettauer was a pupil at Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, followed by studies at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he obtained his medical doctorate in 1809. In 1837 he founded a private medical school located between Prince Edward
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
Court House and Kingsville, Virginia
Kingsville, Virginia
Kingsville is an unincorporated community in Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States. It sits on the intersection of VA 133 and US 15...
. In 1847 he allied his school with Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
, becoming the first medical department at Randolph-Macon.
Mettauer is remembered for his development of innovative surgical practices. Along with his two sons, he trained many physicians at his private medical school. In the 1830s and 1840s, he did pioneer work involving closure of vesicovaginal fistula
Vesicovaginal fistula
Vesicovaginal fistula is a subtype of female urogenital fistula .-Presentation:VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and the vagina that allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault....
e (VVF). He is also given credit for performing the first cleft palate operation in the Americas (1827).
Mettauer also designed and developed his own surgical instruments, some of which are on display at the Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum at Hampden-Sydney College. Also, The John Peter Mettauer Award for Excellence in Research is a prestiguous award issued by Hampden-Sydney College.