Oskar Fehr
Encyclopedia
Oskar Fehr was a German
ophthalmologist. Among his medical specialties were swimming pool conjunctivitis
, tumours of the eye, and retinal detachment
. He was an internationally renowned eye surgeon.
Fehr was born in Braunschweig
to a Jewish family. He studied in Heidelberg
, Berlin
, and Kiel
, receiving his doctorate
at Heidelberg in 1897.
From 1897 to 1906, he was assistant physician
at the eye clinic of Julius Hirschberg
(1843–1925) in Berlin. From 1907, he was head physician
at the department of eye diseases at the Rudolf Virchow
Hospital. He received the title of professor
in 1919. Besides his work in the hospital, he had a large private practice in the western part of Berlin, close to the Tiergarten.
In 1934, Oscar Fehr was forbidden to enter the clinic where he had worked for more than 25 years. He continued his private practice and operated in different nursing homes. When Jewish doctors were prohibited to treat gentiles in 1938, he was one of the few who were allowed to remain in practice as “Judenbehandler” (“Jew treater”).
Fehr finally decided to emigrate with his family to Great Britain in 1939. He attended Edinburgh University to prepare for the exams he had to pass to be allowed to practice in Great Britain. After passing his Exams in 1942/43, he started a private practice in London in July 1943. Becoming a British citizen in 1947, he practiced until his second heart attack in 1955 foreced him to retire. Oskar Fehr died on August 1st 1959 in London.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
ophthalmologist. Among his medical specialties were swimming pool conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis refers to inflammation of the conjunctiva...
, tumours of the eye, and retinal detachment
Retinal detachment
Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blindness. It is a medical emergency.The retina is a...
. He was an internationally renowned eye surgeon.
Fehr was born in Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
to a Jewish family. He studied in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, 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...
, and Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, receiving his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
at Heidelberg in 1897.
From 1897 to 1906, he was assistant physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
at the eye clinic of Julius Hirschberg
Julius Hirschberg
Julius Hirschberg was a German ophthalmologist and medical historian.In 1875, Hirschberg coined the term "campimetry" for the measurement of the visual field on a flat surface and in 1879 he became the first to use an electromagnet to remove metallic foreign bodies from the eye...
(1843–1925) in Berlin. From 1907, he was head physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
at the department of eye diseases at the Rudolf Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
Hospital. He received the title of professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in 1919. Besides his work in the hospital, he had a large private practice in the western part of Berlin, close to the Tiergarten.
In 1934, Oscar Fehr was forbidden to enter the clinic where he had worked for more than 25 years. He continued his private practice and operated in different nursing homes. When Jewish doctors were prohibited to treat gentiles in 1938, he was one of the few who were allowed to remain in practice as “Judenbehandler” (“Jew treater”).
Fehr finally decided to emigrate with his family to Great Britain in 1939. He attended Edinburgh University to prepare for the exams he had to pass to be allowed to practice in Great Britain. After passing his Exams in 1942/43, he started a private practice in London in July 1943. Becoming a British citizen in 1947, he practiced until his second heart attack in 1955 foreced him to retire. Oskar Fehr died on August 1st 1959 in London.
Sources
- Jokl A.: The life of Oscar FEHR. Am J Ophthalmol. 1962 Dec;54:1011-9.
- Amm M, Holubar K.: [Mementos of the Berlin-Jewish ophthalmologist Oskar Fehr (1871-1959)] Eine Spurensuche die in Wien begann: Der Berliner jüdische Augenartz Oskar Fehr (1871 – 1959) Wien Klin Wochenschr. 1999 Jun 18;111(12):488-91