Many historians of science consider Rudolf Virchow the greatest of all pathologists. Virchow was best known as the leading pioneer in the field of cellular pathology. In medieval physiology it was thought that prominent bodily fluids, including blood, phlegm, choler, and bile determined the character and health of a person, and during the nineteenth century many scientists still relied on these humoral theories to explain diseases. Virchow's cell theory, the essence of which is brilliantly encapsulated in the axiom Omnis cellula e cellula, stating that every cell arises from a previously existing cell, virtually dismantled the humoral theories that had dominated the healing arts for more than twenty centuries, and laid the groundwork for a more rational and systematic mode of study.
Virchow was born on October 13, 1821, in Schivelbein, Pomerania, Prussia. He began his medical education in 1839 at the Friedrich Wilhelm Institute of the University of Berlin, where he studied with the famous natural scientist, Johannes Müller. He received his medical degree in 1843, was appointed prosector at the Berlin hospital, Charité in 1847, and taught pathology at the University of Berlin. In 1845, he published his classic paper about one of two of the earliest cases of leukemia and in 1847, he founded his journal, Archives for Pathological Anatomy and Physiology, and for Clinical Medicine, which became known simply as Virchow's Archive. The journal also included non-medical articles on subjects, such as oriental languages, archeology, and anthropology.
In 1848, the Prussian government sent Virchow to Upper Silesia to investigate an outbreak of typhus fever. Virchow blamed the extent of the outbreak on poor social conditions, a fact which made the government furious. 1848 was also a year of major political upheaval which resulted in social revolution, and after Virchow returned to Berlin from Upper Silesia, he joined in the struggle. After the revolution Virchow published a liberal newspaper which focused on medical reform. Virchow was labeled a radical socialist and consequently lost his post at Charité. Virchow then moved to Wüautrzburg, where he was appointed chair of pathological anatomy. During Virchow's years at the University of Wüautrzburg, the number of medical students drastically increased and included several students who eventually became famous scientists, such as Elie Metchnikoff and Robert Koch. In 1850, Virchow married Rose Meyer, with whom he had three daughters and three sons.
In 1856, Virchow returned to Berlin, where he resided and worked for the rest of his life. A chair of pathological anatomy was established just for him and a new pathological institute was built to suit his needs. While in Berlin, Virchow became known as the Pope of pathology. His cell theory was expounded over a course of twenty lectures and published as Cellular Pathology as Based upon Physiological and Pathological Histology, completely modified scientific thought. For example, Virchow clearly demonstrated that in cell reproduction the nucleus and cytoplasm divided. Although Virchow seemed unwilling to recognize the limits of his cell theory, affirming, incorrectly, that all pathology is essentially cellular in nature, his work in pathology is nevertheless viewed as fundamental for the development of modern medicine and biology. Furthermore, he did pioneering work in several fields of research, including the study of degenerative diseases and vascular conditions such as thrombosis, embolism, and inflammation.
Virchow remained a political activist and in 1859 was elected to the Berlin City Council and focused primarily on public health. He exercised his political power by designing new sewer systems; he supervised the design of new hospitals, opened a nursing school, spoke out about the necessity of school hygiene and the importance of meat inspection. In 1861, he was elected to the Prussian Diet and founded the Progressive Party. During wartime, he shifted his attention to building military hospitals, and during the Franco- Prussian War, Virchow led the first hospital train to the front. An exceptional organizer, Virchow excelled in devising methods for dealing with a wide variety of practical and theoretical issues.
Concurrently with his practical and theoretical work in medicine, Virchow, an ardent adversary of the conservative Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and served as member of the German Reichstag from 1880 to 1893. In addition, Virchow, who until the end of his life most energetically pursued his remarkably rich, multifaceted, and eclectic career, contributed to various fields of knowledge outside his primary area of competence. He is generally regarded as the founder of physical anthropology.
This is the complete article, containing 726 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
