Robert Gersuny
Encyclopedia
Robert Gersuny was an Austria
n surgeon
.
). His father was not only a surgeon and obstetrician, but also practiced internal medicine
and dentistry
. His desire to be of help to others caused him to consider the clergy
as a profession before settling on a medical career. He began his medical studies in 1861 at the Charles University in Prague
, where he was active in the Corps Austria. He graduated from medical school in 1866.
After reading Theodor Billroth's
Allgemeine Chirurgie ("General Surgery"), Dr. Gersuny applied for a position with Billroth at the University of Vienna
's Second Surgical University Clinic. He was accepted and assumed employment there in October, 1869 leading to a lifelong friendship between the two physicians. He accompanied Billroth on his journeys as a consultant to Poland
, Russia
and Africa
. From 1880 to 1893 Gersuny was chief surgeon at Karolinen-Kinderspital in Vienna. In 1882 Gersuny became Primarius (Department Chairman of the Rudolfinerhaus, a hospital
in Vienna, founded by Billroth, which included a Nursing
school. After Billroth's death in 1894, Gersuny took over as director of the entire hospital until his death in 1924.
Dr. Gersuny is known primarily for his contributions to the field of Plastic Surgery
.
He is known for his discovery of paraffin
and vaseline
as media for injection. A practice which he put to disastrous results in some of the earliest examples of breast augmentation
.
In 1924 a street in the Döbling
district (19th District) of Vienna was named the Gersunygasse in his honor.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n surgeon
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...
.
Life
Gersuny was the second child of a respected Balneologist in Teplitz (modern Teplice, Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). His father was not only a surgeon and obstetrician, but also practiced 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...
and dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
. His desire to be of help to others caused him to consider the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
as a profession before settling on a medical career. He began his medical studies in 1861 at the Charles University in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he was active in the Corps Austria. He graduated from medical school in 1866.
After reading Theodor Billroth's
Theodor Billroth
Christian Albert Theodor Billroth was a German-born Austrian surgeon and amateur musician....
Allgemeine Chirurgie ("General Surgery"), Dr. Gersuny applied for a position with Billroth 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...
's Second Surgical University Clinic. He was accepted and assumed employment there in October, 1869 leading to a lifelong friendship between the two physicians. He accompanied Billroth on his journeys as a consultant to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. From 1880 to 1893 Gersuny was chief surgeon at Karolinen-Kinderspital in Vienna. In 1882 Gersuny became Primarius (Department Chairman of the Rudolfinerhaus, a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in Vienna, founded by Billroth, which included a Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
school. After Billroth's death in 1894, Gersuny took over as director of the entire hospital until his death in 1924.
Dr. Gersuny is known primarily for his contributions to the field of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
.
He is known for his discovery of paraffin
Paraffin
In chemistry, paraffin is a term that can be used synonymously with "alkane", indicating hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2. Paraffin wax refers to a mixture of alkanes that falls within the 20 ≤ n ≤ 40 range; they are found in the solid state at room temperature and begin to enter the...
and vaseline
Vaseline
Vaseline is a brand of petroleum jelly based products owned by Anglo-Dutch company Unilever. Products include plain petroleum jelly and a selection of skin creams, soaps, lotions, cleansers, deodorants and personal lubricants....
as media for injection. A practice which he put to disastrous results in some of the earliest examples of breast augmentation
Breast augmentation
Breast augmentation denotes the breast implant and fat-graft mammoplasty procedures for correcting the defects, and for enhancing the size, form, and feel of a woman’s breasts...
.
In 1924 a street in the Döbling
Döbling
Döbling is the 19th District in the city of Vienna, Austria . It is located on the north end from the central districts, north of the districts Alsergrund and Währing...
district (19th District) of Vienna was named the Gersunygasse in his honor.
Publications
- Arzt und Patient. Vienna, 1884
- Über falsche Diagnosen. Vienna, 1887
- Bemerkungen über das Spezialistentum in der Medizin. Vienna, 1892
- Bodensatz des Lebens, Hugo Heller & Co., Vienna/Leipzig, 1906 (Aphorisms)
- Theodor Billroth. In: Meister der Heilkunde. Volume 4, Vienna/Berlin/Leipzig/Munich, Rikola Verlag, 1922.