300 years of the Berlin Charité: The plague, the white woman and a far-reaching cabinet order

300 years of the Berlin Charité: The plague, the white woman and a far-reaching cabinet order

At first the hospital was built for the plague sick. Century as civil hospital and as training center for military doctors. With the acquisition by the university as teaching and research institute, Berlin also followed trend typical of the 19th century.
"The great royal military hospital, which takes its name from Mercy." View of the Charité, which is still outside the city walls. Colored etching by Matthaeus Seutter around 1740. Photo: Ullstein
When in 1709 and 1710 the Kingdom of Prussia was struck by the Most High with raging plague and it was feared that the plague of the land was also in the local resident could be dragged (...) let Se. Knigl. Majestt in 1710 outside the city on the same west-north side on free square, large building of brick-lined half-timbering, erected at Dero's expense. At the beginning of the 300-year history of today's Berlin University Clinic, there was an epidemic, ghostly apparition and at the same time superstitious, but for the conditions of the time progressive thinking ruler. King Friedrich () returns from political negotiations with Tsar Peter the Great on November 12, 1709, while the plague, which has been waging in Eastern Europe for two years, is approaching the Prussian capital. Arrived in his room, figure in flowing white robe rushes in and points with blood-dripping hands at the man who has returned: See him, the King of Babylon. . . See him, for the punishment for his sins is at hand. . . The plague will devour him. His wife, Queen Sophie Luise, hides behind this ghostly appearance. She is seized by the first outbreak of madness that will soon overwhelm her. However, Friedrich is convinced that the white woman who, according to legend, always appears when Hohenzoller has to die, appeared to him. Terrified by their prophecies, the king immediately summons his Collegium sanitatis, consisting of councils, doctors and preachers. A new, more comprehensive plague regulation orders the establishment of lazareth houses outside the city, which are supposed to accommodate plague sufferers and serve as quarantine houses, in order to be prepared for the current dangerous plague air. Construction work on the military hospital to the northwest behind the Spandauer Tor begins in the spring of 1710. However, the plague epidemic is drawing past Berlin. The two-story half-timbered house, in future used as domicile for the poor, beggars, fallen women and prostitutes who have to earn their living with spinning and all kinds of woolen work, will soon be popularly used as spinning house in front of the Spandauer Thor 17th At first the hospital was built for the plague sick. Century as civil hospital and as training center for military doctors. With the acquisition by the university as teaching and research institute, Berlin also followed trend typical of the 19th century.
"The great royal military hospital, which takes its name from Mercy." View of the Charité, which is still outside the city walls. Colored etching by Matthaeus Seutter around 1740. Photo: Ullstein
When in 1709 and 1710 the Kingdom of Prussia was struck by the Most High with raging plague and it was feared that the plague of the land was also in the local resident could be dragged (...) let Se. Knigl. Majestt in 1710 outside the city on the same west-north side on free square, large building of brick-lined half-timbering, erected at Dero's expense. At the beginning of the 300-year history of today's Berlin University Clinic, there was an epidemic, ghostly apparition and at the same time superstitious, but for the conditions of the time progressive thinking ruler. King Friedrich () returns from political negotiations with Tsar Peter the Great on November 12, 1709, while the plague, which has been waging in Eastern Europe for two years, is approaching the Prussian capital. Arrived in his room, figure in flowing white robe rushes in and points with blood-dripping hands at the man who has returned: See him, the King of Babylon. . . See him, for the punishment for his sins is at hand. . . The plague will devour him. His wife, Queen Sophie Luise, hides behind this ghostly appearance. She is seized by the first outbreak of madness that will soon overwhelm her. However, Friedrich is convinced that the white woman who, according to legend, always appears when Hohenzoller has to die, appeared to him. Terrified by their prophecies, the king immediately summons his Collegium sanitatis, consisting of councils, doctors and preachers. A new, more comprehensive plague regulation orders the establishment of lazareth houses outside the city, which are supposed to accommodate plague sufferers and serve as quarantine houses, in order to be prepared for the current dangerous plague air. Construction work on the military hospital to the northwest behind the Spandauer Tor begins in the spring of 1710. However, the plague epidemic is drawing past Berlin. The two-story half-timbered house, in future used as domicile for the poor, beggars, fallen women and prostitutes who have to earn their living with spinning and all kinds of woolen work, will soon be popularly used as spinning house in front of the Spandauer Thor 17thAt the end of the 20th century, the population of the Brandenburg-Prussian residence rose to 60,000 and with it the number of those in need. The responsible poor directorate therefore demands the establishment of civil lazareth, charitable hospital as hospice for the elderly, beggars and illegitimate pregnant women. On January 9, 1727 King Friedrich Wilhelm I () ordered the conversion of the former plague house into citizens' hospital in cabinet order and decreed: The house should be called the Charit. This naming will continue in the following years. The king's personal physician, Johann Theodor Eller (), is appointed as the first director of the Charit. The so-called hospitalites are accommodated on the ground floor, the sick on the first floor and on the floor that was added between 1727 and 1729. According to the division into internal and surgical diseases, internal sickrooms and external damage rooms as well as an obstetric and ward for sick soldiers are set up. The briefing of the poor and destitute is the responsibility of the poor directorate. The increasing impoverishment of the population leads to ever increasing overcrowding and the associated inhumane conditions. In 1785 this prompted the government to carry out extensive renovations and new buildings (,,).
King Friedrich I of Prussia ordered the construction of hospital in the spring of 1710. The painting by Antoine Pesne (1683 to 1757), created around 1710, shows the ruler in magnificent regalia on the throne. Photo: Wikipedia
Medical nurseries for soldiers Friedrich Wilhelm I advocated the development of medical education system at an early stage. The reasons for the ruler, who entered history books as soldier king for reason, are predominantly of military nature. The annual loss of 20 percent of his armed forces due to illness and old age urgently needs remedial action. This, in turn, requires well-trained military doctors and surgeons. During his reign, numerous institutions emerged that made Berlin center of medical education. In 1724 the Collegium medico-chirurgicum was set up with six professorships and strictly structured curriculum, which was supposed to combine practical and theoretical instruction: lectures on anatomy, surgery, physiology and pathology, drug theory, physics and mathematics; parallel to this, anatomical and surgical exercises at the anatomical theater built in 1713, supplemented by clinical lessons. In 1726, the city and official surgeon Christian Habermaass suggested to the king that the Charit be converted into an institution for medical training. Berlin does not have medical school or hospital like Paris, Straburg or London.At the end of the 20th century, the population of the Brandenburg-Prussian residence rose to 60,000 and with it the number of those in need. The responsible poor directorate therefore demands the establishment of civil lazareth, charitable hospital as hospice for the elderly, beggars and illegitimate pregnant women. On January 9, 1727 King Friedrich Wilhelm I () ordered the conversion of the former plague house into citizens' hospital in cabinet order and decreed: The house should be called the Charit. This naming will continue in the following years. The king's personal physician, Johann Theodor Eller (), is appointed as the first director of the Charit. The so-called hospitalites are accommodated on the ground floor, the sick on the first floor and on the floor that was added between 1727 and 1729. According to the division into internal and surgical diseases, internal sickrooms and external damage rooms as well as an obstetric and ward for sick soldiers are set up. The briefing of the poor and destitute is the responsibility of the poor directorate. The increasing impoverishment of the population leads to ever increasing overcrowding and the associated inhumane conditions. In 1785 this prompted the government to carry out extensive renovations and new buildings (,,).
King Friedrich I of Prussia ordered the construction of hospital in the spring of 1710. The painting by Antoine Pesne (1683 to 1757), created around 1710, shows the ruler in magnificent regalia on the throne. Photo: Wikipedia
Medical nurseries for soldiers Friedrich Wilhelm I advocated the development of medical education system at an early stage. The reasons for the ruler, who entered history books as soldier king for reason, are predominantly of military nature. The annual loss of 20 percent of his armed forces due to illness and old age urgently needs remedial action. This, in turn, requires well-trained military doctors and surgeons. During his reign, numerous institutions emerged that made Berlin center of medical education. In 1724 the Collegium medico-chirurgicum was set up with six professorships and strictly structured curriculum, which was supposed to combine practical and theoretical instruction: lectures on anatomy, surgery, physiology and pathology, drug theory, physics and mathematics; parallel to this, anatomical and surgical exercises at the anatomical theater built in 1713, supplemented by clinical lessons. In 1726, the city and official surgeon Christian Habermaass suggested to the king that the Charit be converted into an institution for medical training. Berlin does not have medical school or hospital like Paris, Straburg or London.Theoretical training at the Collegium must be supported by practical bedside experience. His argument in favor of improved training opportunities for military doctors met with approval from the king, who is willing to promote branches of science and business that serve the army. The Charit is becoming increasingly important due to its dual function as healing and teaching institution, i.e. as civil hospital and as training center for members of the company. The latter live in the Charit from now on and take care of the sick under the guidance of the Charit doctors. During their training, they receive three-year scholarship in the form of pension. These so-called pension surgeons form the elite of the military medical staff. A similar utilitarian training concept to that of his predecessor is realized by Friedrich Wilhelm II. (). In 1795 the Ppinire, military medicine school, based on the concept of General Doctor Johann Goercke (), was founded for the training and further education of military doctors for the Prussian army. For around 90 regional children, called Eleven in the future, it enables them to complete four-year medical degree. The strictly regulated curriculum includes theoretical lectures at the college, clinical lessons in surgery and internal medicine at the Charit and auxiliary lessons in the form of exercises and repetitions at the Ppinire. The students then complete practical year at the Charit. Freedom to learn and science are not on the agenda; instead, order, discipline and obedience are on the agenda. The state pays the entire cost of studying and accommodation. In return, the graduates undertake to work as company surgeons in the Prussian army for at least eight years. Between 1785 and 1800, the Charit was expanded in several stages. After almost 100 years, this external change is accompanied by deviation from two previously typical characteristics: For long time, the principle that the urban population can only be protected from infectious diseases if those affected are housed in isolated buildings outside the city walls is the Charit now within the grown urban area. Due to the relocation of not sick people in need, the amalgamation of hospitalites and patients is no longer necessary. In 1801, Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland () was appointed royal personal physician, director of the college and leading Charit doctor (,). The triadic collision: Pépinière, University, Charité In October 1810, the Berlin Humboldt University opened with it 117 enrolled medical students opened their doors.Theoretical training at the Collegium must be supported by practical bedside experience. His argument in favor of improved training opportunities for military doctors met with approval from the king, who is willing to promote branches of science and business that serve the army. The Charit is becoming increasingly important due to its dual function as healing and teaching institution, i.e. as civil hospital and as training center for members of the company. The latter live in the Charit from now on and take care of the sick under the guidance of the Charit doctors. During their training, they receive three-year scholarship in the form of pension. These so-called pension surgeons form the elite of the military medical staff. A similar utilitarian training concept to that of his predecessor is realized by Friedrich Wilhelm II. (). In 1795 the Ppinire, military medicine school, based on the concept of General Doctor Johann Goercke (), was founded for the training and further education of military doctors for the Prussian army. For around 90 regional children, called Eleven in the future, it enables them to complete four-year medical degree. The strictly regulated curriculum includes theoretical lectures at the college, clinical lessons in surgery and internal medicine at the Charit and auxiliary lessons in the form of exercises and repetitions at the Ppinire. The students then complete practical year at the Charit. Freedom to learn and science are not on the agenda; instead, order, discipline and obedience are on the agenda. The state pays the entire cost of studying and accommodation. In return, the graduates undertake to work as company surgeons in the Prussian army for at least eight years. Between 1785 and 1800, the Charit was expanded in several stages. After almost 100 years, this external change is accompanied by deviation from two previously typical characteristics: For long time, the principle that the urban population can only be protected from infectious diseases if those affected are housed in isolated buildings outside the city walls is the Charit now within the grown urban area. Due to the relocation of not sick people in need, the amalgamation of hospitalites and patients is no longer necessary. In 1801, Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland () was appointed royal personal physician, director of the college and leading Charit doctor (,). The triadic collision: Pépinière, University, Charité In October 1810, the Berlin Humboldt University opened with it 117 enrolled medical students opened their doors.In the years that followed, the image of medical training was shaped by the ambivalence between theory and practice and the competing demands of science and clinical training: on the one hand, teaching science to provide education and, at the same time, being prepared for bedside medical work.
The structural extensions of the Charité at the end of the 18th century can be seen on this engraving, made around 1809. Photo: Ullstein
Even in the 19th century, the government's educational interests still dominated. Accordingly, the Prussian king pleads that the only large hospital in Prussia should be reserved for the future army doctors as practical training facility, excluding civilian students. Christian Wilhelm Hufeland, professor at the Faculty of Medicine since 1809, considers the separation of doctors and surgeons, civil and military surgeons, on the other hand, to be inappropriate and detrimental, because there is only practical medical training. In his opinion, the military education system serves as model for the university because of the combination of medicine and surgery, the orderly curriculum and practical teaching. Hufeland pleads for union with the medical faculty and advocates that the students be allowed access to the university lectures. Here, however, he meets the resistance of Wilhelm von Humboldt (), head of the Prussian education system. His design for the medical faculty of the university sees it as refuge for science and aims to train doctors to become men of education. In line with his preference for separation of empirical and scientific educational establishments, Humboldt advocates clear demarcation of the university course from the practical-oriented military surgical specialist training of the Ppinire. He even calls for stronger distinction between the two educational institutions by pleading for the transformation of the Ppinire into purely empirical school. Accordingly, the academy students should only learn as much pure theory as is necessary for practice. In fact, there are no differences in terms of content, but only in the financing and structure of the course. Students of the academy can study with the university professors, who are also considered professors of the academy, for fee paid by the state according to four-year curriculum prescribed by the Academic Directorate, while the university students have to pay for the same lectures themselves, and according to any order and order.In the years that followed, the image of medical training was shaped by the ambivalence between theory and practice and the competing demands of science and clinical training: on the one hand, teaching science to provide education and, at the same time, being prepared for bedside medical work.
The structural extensions of the Charité at the end of the 18th century can be seen on this engraving, made around 1809. Photo: Ullstein
Even in the 19th century, the government's educational interests still dominated. Accordingly, the Prussian king pleads that the only large hospital in Prussia should be reserved for the future army doctors as practical training facility, excluding civilian students. Christian Wilhelm Hufeland, professor at the Faculty of Medicine since 1809, considers the separation of doctors and surgeons, civil and military surgeons, on the other hand, to be inappropriate and detrimental, because there is only practical medical training. In his opinion, the military education system serves as model for the university because of the combination of medicine and surgery, the orderly curriculum and practical teaching. Hufeland pleads for union with the medical faculty and advocates that the students be allowed access to the university lectures. Here, however, he meets the resistance of Wilhelm von Humboldt (), head of the Prussian education system. His design for the medical faculty of the university sees it as refuge for science and aims to train doctors to become men of education. In line with his preference for separation of empirical and scientific educational establishments, Humboldt advocates clear demarcation of the university course from the practical-oriented military surgical specialist training of the Ppinire. He even calls for stronger distinction between the two educational institutions by pleading for the transformation of the Ppinire into purely empirical school. Accordingly, the academy students should only learn as much pure theory as is necessary for practice. In fact, there are no differences in terms of content, but only in the financing and structure of the course. Students of the academy can study with the university professors, who are also considered professors of the academy, for fee paid by the state according to four-year curriculum prescribed by the Academic Directorate, while the university students have to pay for the same lectures themselves, and according to any order and order.The only, but not insignificant, difference: the practical year as an assistant doctor in the Charit is reserved for the students, whereas the civilian students only have to attend three-month clinical course in order to be admitted to the state examination. The superiority of the military doctors' educational model is quickly recognized, but above all the outstanding role that the Charit plays in this. Repeated demands of the medical faculty to the government that the Charit should be put into regular connection with the university in order to offer the civil students the possibility to improve their medical, surgical and obstetric skills, are not fulfilled. Instead, they stick to an almost 100-year-old tradition that the Charit, as Clinicum, is definitely intended for the new academy. (,,)
Pleaded for merger of the Charité with the medical faculty of the university: Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland on an engraving by F. Müller after the painting by Mrs. A. Tischbein. Photo: Wikipedia
First sanatorium, first research institute The medical faculty insists on setting up its own university clinics for clinical teaching. Over the years, more and more university clinics have established themselves on the Charit site, in which medical assistants are employed. With the spatial expansion of the institution and the ongoing dispute about the unification of the various educational models, the discussion about the objectives and tasks of the institution repeatedly creates conflict. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Charit corresponds to general hospital that is integrated into the municipal health care system for the poor in the city of Berlin. The reform of the Prussian health system, the introduction of the town order and the localization of the public poor system in the first third of the 19th century have far-reaching consequences. From now on, the Charit is subordinate to the newly created Board of Trustees for Hospital Affairs under the presidency of the Chief Medical Officer Johann Nepomuk Rust (). While the royal cabinet order originally granted all poor people in Berlin free stay, the Charit is increasingly being released from its duty to treat all sick people sent by the poor directorate free of charge. Instead, there is restriction to 100,000 free days. At the same time, the independent state institution is not prepared to subordinate its tasks as the first sanatorium of the state to the interests of the medical faculty, which strives for unrestricted clinical use of the sick (,,). With the appropriation of the hospital by the university as teaching and research institution In Berlin too, one follows trend typical of the 19th century.The only, but not insignificant, difference: the practical year as an assistant doctor in the Charit is reserved for the students, whereas the civilian students only have to attend three-month clinical course in order to be admitted to the state examination. The superiority of the military doctors' educational model is quickly recognized, but above all the outstanding role that the Charit plays in this. Repeated demands of the medical faculty to the government that the Charit should be put into regular connection with the university in order to offer the civil students the possibility to improve their medical, surgical and obstetric skills, are not fulfilled. Instead, they stick to an almost 100-year-old tradition that the Charit, as Clinicum, is definitely intended for the new academy. (,,)
Pleaded for merger of the Charité with the medical faculty of the university: Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland on an engraving by F. Müller after the painting by Mrs. A. Tischbein. Photo: Wikipedia
First sanatorium, first research institute The medical faculty insists on setting up its own university clinics for clinical teaching. Over the years, more and more university clinics have established themselves on the Charit site, in which medical assistants are employed. With the spatial expansion of the institution and the ongoing dispute about the unification of the various educational models, the discussion about the objectives and tasks of the institution repeatedly creates conflict. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Charit corresponds to general hospital that is integrated into the municipal health care system for the poor in the city of Berlin. The reform of the Prussian health system, the introduction of the town order and the localization of the public poor system in the first third of the 19th century have far-reaching consequences. From now on, the Charit is subordinate to the newly created Board of Trustees for Hospital Affairs under the presidency of the Chief Medical Officer Johann Nepomuk Rust (). While the royal cabinet order originally granted all poor people in Berlin free stay, the Charit is increasingly being released from its duty to treat all sick people sent by the poor directorate free of charge. Instead, there is restriction to 100,000 free days. At the same time, the independent state institution is not prepared to subordinate its tasks as the first sanatorium of the state to the interests of the medical faculty, which strives for unrestricted clinical use of the sick (,,). With the appropriation of the hospital by the university as teaching and research institution In Berlin too, one follows trend typical of the 19th century.On the part of classic bourgeois education, demands are made for optimal clarity and the practical practice of skills necessary for the profession. Formulated in Johann Gottlieb Fichte's plea that scientific education is not acquired simply by imparting knowledge, but rather through the process of practicing scientific activities. From now on, the hospital is no longer just sideline for medical work and identity. The university medicine takes over essential elements and methods of the hospital medicine developed within the scope of the surgical and military medical training and helps it to university recognized scientific rank. The bedside training, instruction in laboratory techniques, pathological, physiological and chemical methods, which took place in parallel with the course, will henceforth be understood and promoted as the scientification of medicine (). In the course of the century, almost all departments are converted into university training clinics. The structural changes made also reflect the associated functional separations, mergers and specializations. But the Charit is not only developing into one of the leading scientific centers for medical research in terms of location. Personalities such as Ludwig Traube (), Rudolf Virchow (), Emil Du Bois-Reymond (), Paul Langerhans (), Robert Koch (), Emil Behring () and Ferdinand Sauerbruch () are inevitably connected to the Charit and are still responsible for it today Berlin's continuing international reputation after separation and reunification (,,). How this article is cited: Dtsch Arztebl 2010; 107 (): A 3314 Address of the author Sandra Krmer M.A. Pettenkoferstrae 8 b80336 MnchenE-Mail: skraemer@smd.uni-ulm.de
1.
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2.
Fischer EP: The Charité - A hospital in Berlin 1710 bis today, Munich 2009.
3rd
Graefe CF: Annual report on the clinical surgical and ophthalmic institute of the University of Berlin, Berlin 1825.
4.
Jaeckel G: The Charité - The history of world center of medicine, Frankfurt / M. 1995.
5.
Lenz M: History of the Royal Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, Volume 1, Halle / Saale 1910; Idea and reality of university. Documents on the history of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, ed. von W. Weischedel, Berlin 1960.
6.
Rust JN: About the purpose and the establishment of medical and practical training institutions.On the part of classic bourgeois education, demands are made for optimal clarity and the practical practice of skills necessary for the profession. Formulated in Johann Gottlieb Fichte's plea that scientific education is not acquired simply by imparting knowledge, but rather through the process of practicing scientific activities. From now on, the hospital is no longer just sideline for medical work and identity. The university medicine takes over essential elements and methods of the hospital medicine developed within the scope of the surgical and military medical training and helps it to university recognized scientific rank. The bedside training, instruction in laboratory techniques, pathological, physiological and chemical methods, which took place in parallel with the course, will henceforth be understood and promoted as the scientification of medicine (). In the course of the century, almost all departments are converted into university training clinics. The structural changes made also reflect the associated functional separations, mergers and specializations. But the Charit is not only developing into one of the leading scientific centers for medical research in terms of location. Personalities such as Ludwig Traube (), Rudolf Virchow (), Emil Du Bois-Reymond (), Paul Langerhans (), Robert Koch (), Emil Behring () and Ferdinand Sauerbruch () are inevitably connected to the Charit and are still responsible for it today Berlin's continuing international reputation after separation and reunification (,,). How this article is cited: Dtsch Arztebl 2010; 107 (): A 3314 Address of the author Sandra Krmer M.A. Pettenkoferstrae 8 b80336 MnchenE-Mail: skraemer@smd.uni-ulm.de
1.
Engstrom EJ, Hess V: Yearbook for University History, Volume 3 (2000): Between Knowledge and administrative economics. On the history of the Berlin Charité hospital in the 19th century, Stuttgart 2000.
2.
Fischer EP: The Charité - A hospital in Berlin 1710 bis today, Munich 2009.
3rd
Graefe CF: Annual report on the clinical surgical and ophthalmic institute of the University of Berlin, Berlin 1825.
4.
Jaeckel G: The Charité - The history of world center of medicine, Frankfurt / M. 1995.
5.
Lenz M: History of the Royal Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, Volume 1, Halle / Saale 1910; Idea and reality of university. Documents on the history of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin, ed. von W. Weischedel, Berlin 1960.
6.
Rust JN: About the purpose and the establishment of medical and practical training institutions.In: Rust JN: Essays and Treatises, Volume 3, Berlin 1840, About Clinical Education, Volume 1, Berlin 1834.
7.
Schneck P, Lammel HU: Medicine at the Berlin Charité between 1810 and 1850. Husum 1995.
8.
Tutzke D, Burmeister KJ and others (Ed.): Charité 1710–1985, Berlin 1985.
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