Rudolf Virchow proved that. From the history of medicine

VIRCHOV Rudolf

VIRCHOV Rudolf(Virchow Rudolf, 1821 -1902) - German scientist-pathologist and politician, one of the founders scientific medicine, creator scientific system, known as “cellular pathology”.

In 1843 he graduated from medical school. Faculty of the University of Berlin and at the same time defended his doctorate. dissertation.

Since 1846 - prosector at the Charité hospital (Berlin). Since 1847 - Associate Professor at the University of Berlin. In 1848 he was sent to Silesia to study the typhoid epidemic; based on the materials collected during the trip, he formulated his views on the pathology and epidemiology of infectious diseases and noted the importance social factors in their distribution. In 1849 R. Virchow as an active participant political events(bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1848-1849) was forced to leave the University of Berlin and moved to Würzburg, where he headed the department until 1856 pathological anatomy university; in 1856 he returned to Berlin and until the end of his life he headed the department of pathological anatomy and general pathology at the University of Berlin and at the same time was the director of the Institute of Pathology.

In 1847, R. Virchow founded the journal “Archive of Pathological Anatomy, Physiology and clinical medicine”, in which his scientific works were published (the journal is still published under the name “Virchows Archiv fur pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und fur klinische Medizim”).

Published approx. 1000 scientific works by R. Virchow, dedicated to Ch. arr. characteristics and pathogenesis of common pathological processes and major human diseases. Already in early works he expressed the idea that a number of pathological processes are based on morphol, changes in tissue cells, and not in the blood and lymph, as representatives of the dominant humoral direction in pathology believed. Based on the data of his subsequent studies, he formulated the theory of cellular pathology (see), which he outlined in the works “Cellular Pathology” (1855) and “Cellular Pathology as a Teaching Based on Physiological and Pathological Histology” (1858). This theory covered all aspects of the body’s life and was logical development cell theory (see), intensively developed in the first half of the 19th century. R. Virchow, using structural principles structure of organisms, creatively applied them to explain pathological processes and believed that the material substrate of the disease is the cell - the main structural unit complex organism, its first morphol, stage. He wrote that all pathology is a pathology of the cell, that it is a tangible substrate of pathological physiology, a cornerstone in the stronghold of scientific medicine. Based on the basic principles of cellular pathology, R. Virchow gave new characteristic And new analysis essence of pathological processes, introduced a number of new terminological designations, a significant part of which has been preserved in modern medicine. They laid down the principles of morphology, a method in pathology, the development of which continues continuously.

The theory of cellular pathology quickly gained universal recognition and had a huge impact on the subsequent development of medicine. science. “Cellular Pathology” was published in many countries around the world. In Russia it was first published in extracts (1858, 1859) by A. I. Polunin.

The general theoretical principles of cellular pathology were criticized from different positions during the author’s lifetime. Many of them, as contradicting the doctrine of an integral organism, were rejected; in our time, they have only historical interest.

R. Virchow devoted many works to teaching pathological anatomy, autopsy techniques, general setting dissecting, history of medicine. In medicine, he persistently pursued the idea of ​​the unity of theory and practice and believed that practical medicine- this is applied (“angewandte”) theoretical medicine; emphasized the need for close contact between the pathologist and the clinic and laid the foundations for the clinical-anatomical direction in pathology, which has received universal recognition and further development in scientific and practical activities pathologists and clinicians. R. Virchow gave great value the humanism of the doctor and considered unfounded and dangerous therapeutic experiments on humans unacceptable, regarding them as a crime against logic and morality.

R. Virchow is the author of numerous works on general biology, anthropology, ethnography and archaeology. Together with G. Schliemann, he participated in the excavations of Troy and developed a systematization of human skulls based on craniometry.

R. Virchow took an active part in the social and political life of Germany. He is one of the founders and leaders of the bourgeois-liberal Progressist Party (1861), which represented the left wing of the bourgeois opposition to the Bismarck government; after the formation of the Freethinkers Party (1884) - one of its leaders; from 1862 member of the Prussian Landtag and the German Reichstag (1880-1893). Giving great importance medicine as a social science, R. Virchow in the first period of his political activity was a persistent and active advocate social reforms aimed at improving the material living conditions of the German population; on the basis of his scientific epidemiol, research, he pointed out the importance of social factors in the spread of many diseases and persistently sought to carry out a number of sanitary gigabytes. events.

After the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), which caused a sharp rise in German chauvinism, and especially after Paris Commune(1871) R. Virchow took the position of extreme reaction and clericalism. In particular, he demanded that the teaching of Darwinism in schools be prohibited, because, in his opinion, evolutionary theory carries the ideas of socialism.

R. Virchow was the founder of German. scientific society of pathologists, following the example of which the existing similar societies were organized in almost all countries of the world. His institute was an attractive school for pathologists and clinicians from many countries around the world, including Russians. In 1897, as a member of the XII International Congress doctors, he was in Moscow and visited a number of other cities in Russia. R. Virchow's services to world science received universal recognition during his lifetime. He was elected an honorary member scientific societies and academies of almost all countries.

The name of R. Virchow occupies an honorable place among the brilliant representatives of German. people, as noted in the resolution of the SED Plenum of October 4, 1949.

Essays: Handbuch der speziellen Pathologie und Therapie, Bd 1 - 6, Erlangen, 1854 - 1865 u. Bd 2 - 6, Erlangen, 1864 - 1874 (Hrsg.); Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur wissenschaftlichen Medicin, Frankfurt a./M., 1856; Die Cellularpathologie, B., 1858, 1859, 1862 u. 1871 (Russian translation, St. Petersburg, 1871, M., 1885); Die Krankhafte Geschwtilste, Bd 1-2, B., 1863 - 1865; Gesammelte Abhandlungen aus dem Gebiete der offe-ntlichen Medicin und der Seuchenlehre, Bd 1-2, B., 1879; Trombose und Embolie, Lpz., 1910.

Bibliography: Abrikosov A. Rudolf Virchow (on the 100th anniversary of his birth), Med. zhur., vol. 1, no. 10-12, p. 631, 1921; Weil S.S., R. Virchow and modern pathology, in the book: Medicine and dialectic. materialism, c. 2, p. 139, M., 1927; Davydovsky I.V. To the centenary of “cellular pathology” by Rudolf Virchow, Arch. pathol., t. 18, no. 5, p. 3, 1956; Sakharov G.P. Rudolf Virchow and Russian medicine (on the centenary of his birth), M., 1922; Fedorovsky G. Line of great doctors, trans. from Polish, p. 72, Warsaw, 1972; Ackerknecht E. II. Rudolf Virchow - doctor, statesman, anthropologist, Madison, 1953; B a s k e r J. R. The celltheory, a restatement, history and critique, Quart. J. microsc. Sci., v. 94, pt 4, p. 407, 1953, bibliogr.; D o e r r W. Wand-lungen der Krankheitsforschung, tiber “Standpunkte” in der Pathologie 150 Jah-re nach R. Virchows Geburtstag, B., 19 71, Bibliogr.; Hiltner G. Rudolf Virchow, Stuttgart, 1970, Bibliogr.; M ey e rE. Rudolf Virchow, Wiesbaden, 1956; Virchow, Werk und Wirkung, hrsg. v. F. Boenheim, B.,1957.

Ya.L. Rapoport.

“Basic provisions of cellular theory” - Provisions of modern cellular theory. R. Feynman. Theory error. Matthias Schleiden. Electron microscope. Karl Baer. History of the study of cells. Electron microscopy. Theodor Schwann. Get acquainted with the history of the study of cells. Check that the test was performed correctly. Rudolf Virchow. Cell structure. Methods for studying cells. Robert Brown. Cytology. Jan Purkinė. Cell center. Similarities in metabolism.

"Cell Research" - Ciliates. Cellular structure plants. Numerous observations. Contributions to the study of the cell. Animal cells. There is no life outside the cell. Development of cell theory. Opening the cell. Research methods. Cell division. Plant and animal cells. Implications for solving diseases. History of discovery.

"Cytology" - Plasma membrane. Cell. Smooth and granular structures. Cell research methods. Cytology. Lysosomes. History of the study of cells. What is a cell? Cytoplasm. Deoxyribonucleic acids. Electron microscopy. Golgi complex. Provisions of the cell theory. Theodor Schwann. Cytophotometry. Development of cell theory. Brownian motion. Chemical composition cells. Nucleus in a plant cell.

“History of the study of cells and cell theory” - Cell theory. Cellular center. Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek. Cell. Core. Goryaninov. Mitochondria. Schwann. History of the study of cells. German scientist. Endoplasmic reticulum. Cell structure. Lysosomes. Galileo Galilei. Provisions of the cell theory. Malpighi. Brown. Golgi apparatus. Nuclear envelope.

“The history of the study of the cell” - How blood moves in the fin of a fish. The cell: history of study. Cytology is a science that studies the structure, function and evolution of cells. Differential centrifugation. The cell is the basic structure and functional unit of life. Cell theory. Robert Hooke first described the structure of the bark of the cork oak in 1665. Schwann proceeded from the discovery of M. Schleiden. Russian scientist P.F. Goryaninov. In 1831, R. Brown discovered the nucleus in cell sap.

“Magnifying devices” - Electron microscope. Leeuwenhoek microscopes. Hand magnifying glass. Permission. Microscope. Modern magnifying devices. Tripod magnifier. Light microscope. Anthony Van Leeuwenhoek. Galileo Galilei. Invention of the magnifying glass. Appearance. The magnifying glass was invented by Englishman Roger Bacon. Leeuwenhoek microscope. Magnifying devices. The so-called has become widespread. Microscope Galileo Galilei. Magnifier. Microscope by Robert Hooke.

Rudolf Virchow

Rudolf Virchow(Virchow) - one of the outstanding German scientists second half of the 19th century centuries.

Biography

Born on October 13, 1821 in the town of Schiefelbein in the Prussian province of Pomerania. After completing a course at the Berlin medical institute Friedrich Wilhelm in 1843, Virchow first became an assistant, and then became a prosector at the Charité hospital in Berlin. In 1847 he received the right to teach and, together with Benno Reinhard († 1852), founded the journal "Archiv für pathol. Anatomie u. Physiologie u. für klin. Medicin", which is now world famous under the name of the Virchow Archive. In 1891, the 126th volume of this publication was published, containing more than 200 articles by Virchow himself and representing a living half-century history of the most important acquisitions of medical science. At the beginning of 1848, Virchow was sent to Upper Silesia to study the epidemic of famine typhus that prevailed there. His report on this trip, published in the Archive and having a large scientific interest, painted at the same time political ideas in the spirit of 1848. This circumstance, as well as his general participation in the reform movements of that time, caused the Prussian government to dislike him and prompted him to accept the regular chair of pathological anatomy at the University of Würzburg, which quickly glorified his name. In 1856, he returned to Berlin as a professor of pathological anatomy, general pathology and therapy and director of the newly established pathological institute, celebrating the 70th anniversary of his life there in the fall of 1891. This institute soon became a center of attraction for young scientists of all educated countries. Russian medical scientists especially owe a lot to Virchow and his institute. - Virchow is the founder of the so-called. cellular (cellular) pathology, in which disease processes are reduced to changes in the vital activity of the smallest elementary parts of the animal organism - its cells (see this word).

Rudolf Virchow

The views of this scientific theory in connection with the successes of chemistry and physiology, they forever freed medicine from various kinds of speculative hypotheses and constructions and closely connected it with the vast field of natural science. As a pathologist and especially a histologist, V. independently and for the first time established the histological and physiological essence of many disease processes (bleeding, thrombosis, embolism, amyloid degeneration of organs, English disease, tuberculosis, most neoplasms, trichinosis, etc. etc.), explained normal structure many organs and individual tissues; showed the presence of living and active cells in connective tissue and its varieties; found that pathologically altered organs and neoplasms contain ordinary physiological types of tissues, established the contractility of lymphatic and cartilage cells; found out the structure of mucous tissue and intermediate tissue nervous system; proved the possibility of neoformation of the gray matter of the brain, explained the dependence of the shape of the skull on the fusion of sutures, etc. As an anthropologist, V. contributed a lot with his work to the establishment of the anatomical features of races; as a biologist in general, he resisted the fascination with the exclusively mechanical views on the phenomena of life, so widespread during his youth, and, one might say, had the courage to defend against general flow of the best minds, the isolation of the element of life as a sui generis principle. This is where his famous thesis “omnis cellula e cellula” comes from (a cell comes only from a cell), which, by the way, ended the famous debate among biologists about the spontaneous generation of organisms. As a figure in the field of public hygiene, Virchow is known for his work on the study of endemic diseases associated with deprivation and hunger, as well as leprosy, and for his participation in public hygienic events for the construction of hospitals, schools, etc.

Archeology classes

Virchow's anthropological research led him to archaeological research, which he carried out throughout Germany and other European countries. He has works on urns, on the Bronze Age, on mounds, on pile buildings, etc. In 1879 he participated in the famous excavations of Schliemann, and as a result his works appeared: “Zur Landeskunde der Troas” (Berlin, 1880; in Russian language: "The Ruins of Troy" in the "Historical Bulletin", 1880, No. 2) and "Alttrojanische Gräber und Schädel" (Berlin, 1882). In 1888, together with Schliemann, he traveled to Egypt, Nubia and the Peloponnese and carried out his interesting research on the royal mummies in the Bulak Museum, and compared them with the surviving images of the kings. He completed his work on prehistoric antiquities by founding the “German Museum of Clothes and Household Utensils” in Berlin. His essay “On Ancient Graves and Buildings on Stilts” (St. Petersburg, 1886) is also available in translation in Russian.

Policy

On political path Virchow was brought in not by a thirst for glory, but by a humane feeling. During the trip to Upper Silesia mentioned above, he became convinced that “doctors are the natural advocates of the poor, and a large part social issue falls within their jurisdiction." Since then, Virchow's science and politics have been running in parallel, uniting into one whole in the field of public medicine. To promote the development of sanitary affairs, he began to take part in elected city institutions. Virchow's efforts in this regard were crowned complete success. The German governments heeded his eloquent admonitions and began to gradually implement his plans for the sanitary sector. Thanks to his tireless activity, Germany and especially its cities little by little achieved the high degree of perfection in sanitary terms at which they stand today. Berlin especially owes him a lot, in municipal government which he has been involved in since 1859. These include his works: "Kanalisation oder Abfuhr" (Berlin, 1869); "Reinigung und Entwässerung Berlins" (Berlin, 1870-79); "Die Anstalten der Stadt Berlin für die öffentliche Gesundheitspflege" (Berlin, 1886). Along with his participation in city government is his activity in parliament, where, again, sanitary issues seem to be his personal specialty; but he also takes a very prominent part in the discussion of general political issues. Elected to the Prussian Diet immediately upon his return from Würzburg, in the same year 1856 he became one of the founders and leaders of the progressive party, which subsequently united with the secessionists and turned into a party of free thinkers. This party owes its influence on the course of affairs to a large extent to Virchow, his firmness in convictions, tireless activity and the impeccable purity of his name, which slander never dared to touch. During the famous conflict between the Prussian government and the Diet (1862-66), Virchow was one of the main leaders of the opposition. After creation German Empire Virchow left for a while political arena. The loud victories of German weapons did not captivate him; he did not believe in the beneficence of the empire, which had united the German people with iron and blood. “I am not fit now,” he told the deputations of voters who repeatedly asked him to accept parliamentary powers, “to represent the country; given its current mood, I have nothing to do in parliament. Maybe I will live to see the time when the people will need my voice again; then I will appear if he calls me, but now not.” This time came in the early 1880s, at the height of reactionary politics Chancellor Bismarck. Then Virchow first entered the imperial parliament as a deputy from the city of Berlin. Died in 1902. Virchow's biography in "Bulletin of Europe" 1882, No. 8.

Essays

From individual works Virchow besides special works and small brochures are especially famous:

• "Gesammelte Abhandlungen zur wissenschaftl. Medicin" (1856)
• "Untersuchungen über die Entwicklung des Schädelgrundes" (1857)
• "Die Cellularpathologie in ihrer Begründung auf physiol. und pathol. Gewebslehre" (1858)
• "Die krankhaften Geschwülste" (1863-67); "Vier Reden über Leben und Kranksein" (1862)
• "Lehre von den Trichinen" (1865)
• "Gesammelte Abhandl. aus dem Gebiete der öffentl. Medicin und der Seuchenlehre" (1879). Wed. S. M. Lukyanova: “R. Virchow and his vitalism” (Warsaw, 1891), I. V. Bertenson, “Robert Virchow as a hygienist” (“Bulletin of Public Hygiene” 1882, Jan.).slehre” (1858)
• "Die krankhaften Geschwülste" (1863-67)
• "Vier Reden über Leben und Kranksein" (1862); "Lehre von den Trichinen" (1865)
• "Ueber einige Merkmale niederer Menschenrassen" (1875)
• "Gräberfeld von Koban im Lande der Osseten" (Berl., 1883)
• "Gesammelte Abhandl. aus dem Gebiete der öffentl. Medicin und der Seuchenlehre" (1879). Wed. S. M. Lukyanova: "R. Virchow and his vitalism" (Warsaw, 1891), I. V. Bertenson, "Robert Virchow as a hygienist" ("Bulletin of Public Hygiene" 1882, January).

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Rudolf Virchow was born in the town of Schiefelbein in the Prussian province of Pomerania (now the town of Świdwin in Poland). His father was engaged in trade. Virchow studied at the Friedrich-Wilhelm Medical-Surgical Institute (Berlin). In 1843, he first became an assistant and then became vice-rector at the Berlin Charité clinic. My first scientific work(description of leukemia) the scientist published in 1845.

In 1847, he became a teacher and founded, together with the young scientist Benno Reinhardt, a journal devoted to issues of pathological anatomy and human physiology. Now this magazine is published under the name “Virchow Archive”.

Virchow's name has gained well-deserved fame in scientific circles. But it became known to the general public only after the scientist’s business trip to Upper Silesia, where a typhus epidemic was rapidly spreading. The authorities needed the epidemic to be studied in scientific aspect. On February 20, 1848, Virchow and Dr. Barets set out on the road. Already on March 15, the scientist provided the Society for Scientific Medicine in Berlin with “Messages” about the typhus epidemic, which took up 190 pages.

At that time, a revolution broke out against the government, Vikhrov played an active role in it and fell out of favor with the authorities. As a result of these events, Rudolf left Berlin and went to the University of Würzburg, where he worked at the department of pathological anatomy.

In 1856, Rudolf Vikhrov returned to the capital with the title of professor of pathological anatomy, therapy and general pathology. He became director of the newly established pathological institute.

He was buried in Schöneberg (Berlin region).

Contributions to medicine and biology

Rudolf Virchow is the founder of the so-called concept of cellular (cellular) pathology, according to which all disease processes in the body come down to changes at the cellular level.

The scientist was the first to establish the histological and physiological nature of many painful processes of embolism, thrombosis, leukemia, amyloid degeneration internal organs, tuberculosis, trichinosis, English disease (rickets). The doctor explained the structure of many organs and tissues, established the contractility of cartilage and lymphatic cells, described the relationship between suture fusion and the shape of the skull, etc.

Virchow believed that cancer is caused by chronic irritation in tissues (the so-called irritation theory or irritation theory of the origin of tumors). According to this theory, the cause of many tumors is the influence of physical and chemical irritants (injuries, ionizing radiation, chemicals organic and inorganic origin etc.) The theory is well illustrated by cancer of occupational origin in humans. This concept makes it possible to implement measures to prevent certain tumors, but does not explain the mechanism of transformation of healthy cells into tumor cells, the problem of congenital tumors, etc.

Criticism of Darwin's theory

Rudolf Virchow was an opponent of Darwin's theory of evolution. On September 22, 1877, he spoke to a large audience in Munich. In the report, he expressed his disagreement with the teaching of the theory of evolution in schools, arguing that it was an unproven hypothesis and lacked empirical basis. The physician was one of the leading opponents in the debate over the authenticity of the Neanderthal man discovered in 1856.