Alfred Bielschowsky (December 11, 1871 – April 5, 1940) was a German

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology (, ) is the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of eye diseases and disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Following a ...

. His specialty was

physiology Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...

and

pathology Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

of the eye, particularly in regards to research of

eye movement Eye movement includes the voluntary or involuntary movement of the eyes. Eye movements are used by a number of organisms (e.g. primates, rodents, flies, birds, fish, cats, crabs, octopus) to fixate, inspect and track visual objects of inte ...

, space perception and diagnosis of

oculomotor The oculomotor nerve, also known as the third cranial nerve, cranial nerve III, or simply CN III, is a cranial nerve that enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure and innervates extraocular muscles that enable most movements of ...

anomalies. Bielschowsky was born in Namslau (Namysłów),

Prussian Silesia The Province of Silesia (; ; ) was a provinces of Prussia, province of Kingdom of Prussia, Prussia from 1815 to 1919. The Silesia region was part of the Prussian realm since 1742 and established as an official province in 1815, then became part ...

. After attending the Königliches Katholisches Gymnasium of Glatz (Kłodzko), he studied medicine at the University of Breslau (Wrocław) and at the

University of Heidelberg Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg (; ), is a public university, public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386 on instruction of Pope Urban VI, Heidelberg is List ...

. At Heidelberg he was a student of

Theodor Leber (1840-1917). Afterwards he studied medicine at the

University of Berlin The Humboldt University of Berlin (, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin, Germany. The university was established by Frederick William III on the initiative of Wilhelm von Humbol ...

, attending the lectures of

Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger Karl Ernst Theodor Schweigger (28 October 1830 – 24 August 1905) was a German ophthalmologist who was a native of Halle (Saale), Halle an der Saale. He was the son of scientist Johann Salomo Christoph Schweigger (1779–1857), inventor of an ...

(1830-1905) and graduating in 1893. He received his medical license in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

on March 1 of the same year. Bielschowsky subsequently studied and worked in the eye clinic at the

University of Leipzig Leipzig University (), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 December 1409 by Frederick I, Electo ...

, receiving his

habilitation Habilitation is the highest university degree, or the procedure by which it is achieved, in Germany, France, Italy, Poland and some other European and non-English-speaking countries. The candidate fulfills a university's set criteria of excelle ...

in 1900 and becoming head physician of the clinic in 1906. While at Leipzig he worked under physiologist

Ewald Hering Karl Ewald Konstantin Hering (5 August 1834 – 26 January 1918) was a German physiologist who did much research in color vision, binocular perception, eye movements, and hyperacuity. He proposed opponent color theory in 1892. Born in Gersd ...

(1834-1918), and with

Franz Bruno Hofmann Franz Bruno Hofmann (24 November 1869, Skalka – 6 June 1926, Marburg) was an Austrian-German physiologist. In 1894 he received his medical doctorate from the German University in Prague, and for several years worked as an assistant to phys ...

(1869-1926), he conducted studies of fusion and cyclodeviation in

superior oblique muscle The superior oblique muscle or obliquus oculi superior is a fusiform muscle originating in the upper, medial side of the orbit (anatomy), orbit (i.e. from beside the nose) which abducts, depresses and internally rotates the eye. It is the only e ...

paresis In medicine, paresis (), compound word from Greek , (πᾰρᾰ- “beside” + ἵημι “let go, release”), is a condition typified by a weakness of voluntary movement, or by partial loss of voluntary movement or by impaired movement. Whe ...

. In 1912 Bielschowsky attained the chair of ophthalmology at the

University of Marburg The Philipps University of Marburg () is a public research university located in Marburg, Germany. It was founded in 1527 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, which makes it one of Germany's oldest universities and the oldest still operating Prote ...

. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Bielschowsky established a hospital ward and

Braille Braille ( , ) is a Tactile alphabet, tactile writing system used by blindness, blind or visually impaired people. It can be read either on embossed paper or by using refreshable braille displays that connect to computers and smartphone device ...

instruction for treatment of blinded soldiers. In 1916, along with

Carl Strehl Carl Strehl (July 12, 1886 – August 18, 1971) was a German educator born in Berlin who was influential in the teaching of the blind. History In December 1907, Strehl lost his eyesight while working in a chemical factory in New York. Later ...

(1886-1971), he founded the ''Verein blinder Akademiker Deutschlands'' (Association of Blinded Academics of Germany). For his war-time contributions, he was awarded the

Iron Cross The Iron Cross (, , abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, the German Empire (1871–1918), and Nazi Germany (1933–1945). The design, a black cross pattée with a white or silver outline, was derived from the in ...

for War Aid from

Paul von Hindenburg Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg (2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) was a German military and political leader who led the Imperial German Army during the First World War and later became President of Germany (1919� ...

and honored with the title of ''Geheimer Medizinalrat'' (Privy Medical Counselor) by

Wilhelm II, German Emperor Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia from 1888 until his abdication in 1918, which marked the end of the German Empire as well as the Hohenzollern dynasty ...

. In 1923 Bielschowsky was appointed chair of ophthalmology at the University of Breslau. While here, he published "''Die Lähmungen der Augenmuskeln''" (1932), an influential work on eye muscle disturbances. Because of his

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish heritage and Nazi persecution, Bielschowsky was fired from his position in 1934, later emigrating to the United States (1936). In 1937 he became head of the

Dartmouth Eye Institute Dartmouth may refer to: Places * Dartmouth, Devon, England ** Dartmouth Harbour ** Dartmouth (UK Parliament constituency) * Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States * Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada * Dartmouth, Victoria, Australia Institutions * D ...

Dartmouth College Dartmouth College ( ) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the America ...

Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover is a New England town, town located along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 11,870. The town is home to the Ivy League university ...

. However, he died suddenly in 1940. During the same year hi
"Lectures on motor anomalies"
was published.

Associated eponym

* Bielschowsky's head tilt test: A test for

palsy Palsy is a medical term which refers to various types of paralysisDan Agin, ''More Than Genes: What Science Can Tell Us About Toxic Chemicals, Development, and the Risk to Our Children'' (2009), p. 172. or paresis, often accompanied by weakness and ...

of the

caused by damage to

cranial nerve Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain (including the brainstem), of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and f ...

IV (

trochlear nerve The trochlear nerve (), ( lit. ''pulley-like'' nerve) also known as the fourth cranial nerve, cranial nerve IV, or CN IV, is a cranial nerve that innervates a single muscle - the superior oblique muscle of the eye (which operates through the pu ...

References

Ophthalmology Hall of Fame
(Biography and Photo)

@

Who Named It ''Whonamedit?'' is an online English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though it is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliograp ...

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bielschowsky, Alfred 1871 births 1940 deaths People from Namysłów Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Geisel School of Medicine faculty German ophthalmologists German people of World War I Humboldt University of Berlin alumni Physicians from the Province of Silesia Recipients of the Iron Cross (1914) Heidelberg University alumni University of Breslau alumni Academic staff of the University of Breslau Leipzig University alumni Academic staff of Leipzig University Academic staff of the University of Marburg