Nathan Zuntz
Encyclopedia
Nathan Zuntz was a German physiologist born in Bonn
. He was a pioneer of modern altitude physiology and aviation medicine
.
at the University of Bonn
, where he was an assistant to Max Schultze
. In 1868 he earned his doctorate, and following a study trip to Berlin
, returned to Bonn in 1870 as an assistant to physiologist Eduard Pflüger
. The following year he became a lecturer at the University of Bonn, and in 1872 was an honorary professor of physiology at the Landwirtschaftlichen Akademie at Poppelsdorf. From 1881 until his retirement in 1919, he was a professor at Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule (Royal Agricultural College) in Berlin
.
, respiration
and nutrition
, and is well known for his work in high-altitude physiology. He conducted extensive research on the physiological changes in animals and humans in extreme conditions. Many of his field studies were conducted at Capanna Regina Margherita, a research station at the apex of Monte Rosa
, Italy. In 1902 with his assistant Hermann von Schrötter
and meteorologists Arthur Berson
and Reinhard Süring
, he made he made two high-altitude balloon
ascents in which they reached an altitude of 5000 meters. In 1910 Zuntz participated in a scientific expedition to Pico de Teide in the Canary Islands
with Schrötter and physiologists Arnold Durig
(1872-1961) and Joseph Barcroft
(1872-1947).
He published a number of articles on high-altitude medicine, and one of his better known works was Höhenklima und Bergwanderungen in ihrer Wirkung auf den Menschen (High Altitude Climate and Mountaineering and their Effect on Humans). In 1885 with August Julius Geppert (1856-1937), he created the Zuntz-Geppert respiratory apparatus, and for field studies Zuntz invented a portable Gasuhr (dry gas measuring device). In 1889 he constructed an early treadmill
(Laudband), and in 1914 added an X-ray apparatus to the machine in order to observe cardiac changes during exercise. In addition, he opened the first laboratory dedicated to sports medicine
in Germany (1911).
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
. He was a pioneer of modern altitude physiology and aviation medicine
Aviation medicine
Aviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots, aircrews, or persons involved in spaceflight...
.
Academic career
He studied medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
, where he was an assistant to Max Schultze
Max Schultze
Max Johann Sigismund Schultze was a German microscopic anatomist noted for his work on cell theory.-Biography:Schultze was born at Freiburg in Breisgau...
. In 1868 he earned his doctorate, and following a study trip to 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...
, returned to Bonn in 1870 as an assistant to physiologist Eduard Pflüger
Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm Pflüger
Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm Pflüger was a German physiologist born in Hanau.He studied medicine at the Universities of Marburg and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1853. While in Berlin he worked as an assistant to Emil du Bois-Reymond...
. The following year he became a lecturer at the University of Bonn, and in 1872 was an honorary professor of physiology at the Landwirtschaftlichen Akademie at Poppelsdorf. From 1881 until his retirement in 1919, he was a professor at Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule (Royal Agricultural College) 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...
.
Scientific investigations
Zuntz was involved in a many facets of physiological research, including metabolismMetabolism
Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
, respiration
Respiration (physiology)
'In physiology, respiration is defined as the transport of oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues, and the transport of carbon dioxide in the opposite direction...
and nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
, and is well known for his work in high-altitude physiology. He conducted extensive research on the physiological changes in animals and humans in extreme conditions. Many of his field studies were conducted at Capanna Regina Margherita, a research station at the apex of Monte Rosa
Monte Rosa
The Monte Rosa Massif is a mountain massif located in the eastern part of the Pennine Alps. It is located between Switzerland and Italy...
, Italy. In 1902 with his assistant Hermann von Schrötter
Hermann von Schrötter
Anton Hermann Victor Thomas Schrötter, name sometimes referred to as Hermann Schrötter von Kristelli was an Austrian physiologist and physician who was a native of Vienna...
and meteorologists Arthur Berson
Arthur Berson
Arthur Josef Stanislaus Berson was a Polish meteorologist and pioneer of aerology who was a native of Neu Sandez, Galicia ....
and Reinhard Süring
Reinhard Süring
Reinhard Süring was a German meteorologist who was a native of Hamburg. He died in Potsdam, East Germany on 29 December 1950....
, he made he made two high-altitude balloon
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
ascents in which they reached an altitude of 5000 meters. In 1910 Zuntz participated in a scientific expedition to Pico de Teide in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
with Schrötter and physiologists Arnold Durig
Arnold Durig
Arnold Durig was an Austrian physiologist. He very probably served as the model for the "impartial person" in Sigmund Freud's polemic booklet The Question of Lay Analysis: Conversations with an Impartial Person ....
(1872-1961) and Joseph Barcroft
Joseph Barcroft
Sir Joseph Barcroft CBE, FRS was a British physiologist best known for his studies of the oxygenation of blood....
(1872-1947).
He published a number of articles on high-altitude medicine, and one of his better known works was Höhenklima und Bergwanderungen in ihrer Wirkung auf den Menschen (High Altitude Climate and Mountaineering and their Effect on Humans). In 1885 with August Julius Geppert (1856-1937), he created the Zuntz-Geppert respiratory apparatus, and for field studies Zuntz invented a portable Gasuhr (dry gas measuring device). In 1889 he constructed an early treadmill
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine for running or walking while staying in one place. The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain...
(Laudband), and in 1914 added an X-ray apparatus to the machine in order to observe cardiac changes during exercise. In addition, he opened the first laboratory dedicated to sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
in Germany (1911).
Selected publications
- Der Stoffwechsel des Pferdes bei Ruhe und Arbeit (The MetabolismMetabolismMetabolism is the set of chemical reactions that happen in the cells of living organisms to sustain life. These processes allow organisms to grow and reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments. Metabolism is usually divided into two categories...
of the Horse at Rest and Work), 1889 (with C. Lehmann and O. Hagemann) - Studien zu einer Physiologie des Marsches (Studies on Physiology of Marches) Berlin, 1901 (with W. Schumburg)
- Ergebnisse zweier Ballonfahrten zu physiologischen Zwecken (Results of Two Balloon Rides for Physiological Purposes) Pflügers Archiv 92 (1902), 479-520 (with H. von Schrötter)
- Höhenklima und Bergwanderungen in ihrer Wirkung auf den Menschen. Ergebnisse experimenteller Forschungen im Hochgebirge und Laboratorium (High Altitude Climate and Mountaineering and their Effect on Humans. Results of Experimental Research in the High Mountains and the Laboratory), 1906 (with Adolf LoewyAdolf LoewyAdolf Loewy ; was a German physiologist who was a native of Berlin.He studied medicine in Vienna and Berlin, where in 1885 he received his medical doctorate. Later he was an assistant to Nathan Zuntz at the Landwirtschaftlichen Hochschule in Berlin...
, F. Müller and W. Caspari) - Lehrbuch der Physiologie des Menschen (Textbook of Human Physiology), 1909 (with A. Loewy)
- Zur Physiologie und Hygiene der Luftfahrt (The Physiology and Hygiene involving Aviation), 1912
External links
- Biography, bibliography and links to online-sources in the Virtual LaboratoryVirtual LaboratoryThe online project Virtual Laboratory. Essays and Resources on the Experimentalization of Life, 1830-1930, located at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, is dedicated to research in the history of the experimentalization of life...
of the Max Planck Institute for the History of ScienceMax Planck Institute for the History of ScienceThe Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin was established in March 1994. Its research is primarily devoted to a theoretically oriented history of science, principally of the natural sciences, but with methodological perspectives drawn from the cognitive sciences and from...