Franz Dittrich (16 October 1815 – 29 August 1859) was an Austrian

pathologist Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. 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 t ...

born in Nixdorf, Bohemia (today Mikulášovice, Czech Republic). He studied medicine at the University of Prague under Joseph Hyrtl (1810-1894), receiving his doctorate in 1841. He continued his studies in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, and in 1842 returned to

Prague Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...

, where he worked as a medical assistant with

Anton von Jaksch Anton Ritter Jaksch von Wartenhorst (10 April 1810, Stráž pod Ralskem – 2 September 1887, Luhov) was an Austrian-Czech physician. He was the father of internist Rudolf von Jaksch (1855–1947). Biography He studied medicine at the Universi ...

(1810-1887) and

Franz Kiwisch von Rotterau Franz Kiwisch von Rotterau (30 April 1814 – 24 October 1852) was Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Würzburg and later at the University of Prague. He was one of Semmelweis's principal opponents. In Würzburg he was succeeded by Frie ...

(1814-1852). He later served as prosector of

anatomical pathology Anatomical pathology (''Commonwealth'') or Anatomic pathology (''U.S.'') is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and molecular examination o ...

, and in 1848 succeeded Anton Dlauhy (1807-1888) as professor of

pathological anatomy Anatomical pathology (''Commonwealth'') or Anatomic pathology (''U.S.'') is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the macroscopic, microscopic, biochemical, immunologic and molecular examination o ...

. In 1850 he succeeded Karl Friedrich Canstatt (1807-1850) as director at the medical clinic in

Erlangen Erlangen (; East Franconian: ''Erlang'', Bavarian: ''Erlanga'') is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district Erlangen-Höchstadt (former administrative district Erlangen), and with 116,062 inhabi ...

. In 1856 Dittrich succumbed to brain disease that ultimately led to his death a few years later. From 1845 Dittrich published reports on his activities in the Prague faculty journal, ''Vierteljahrsschrift für praktische Heilkunde''. Topics that he covered in the journal included

stomach cancer Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a cancer that develops from the Gastric mucosa, lining of the stomach. Most cases of stomach cancers are gastric carcinomas, which can be divided into a number of subtypes, including gastric adenoca ...

, syphilis of the

liver The liver is a major organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for digestion and growth. In humans, it ...

, heart

stenosis A stenosis (from Ancient Greek στενός, "narrow") is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure such as foramina and canals. It is also sometimes called a stricture (as in urethral stricture). ''Stricture' ...

, et al. His name is associated with the following two eponyms: * Dittrich's plugs: Minute, foul-smelling masses of bacteria, granular debris and fatty acid crystals found in the sputum in fetid

bronchitis Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi ...

and pulmonary

gangrene Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. If the gan ...

. * Dittrich's stenosis: Stenosis of the

conus arteriosus The infundibulum (also known as ''conus arteriosus'') is a conical pouch formed from the upper and left angle of the right ventricle in the chordate heart, from which the pulmonary trunk arises. It develops from the bulbus cordis. Typically, the i ...

.Traube's plugs
@

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 ...

References

''Franz Dittrich''
@

Austrian pathologists German pathologists Academic staff of Charles University Charles University alumni 1815 births 1859 deaths Academic staff of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg People from Děčín District German Bohemian people Austrian people of German Bohemian descent Neurological disease deaths in Germany {{Austria-med-bio-stub

See also

References