[Prof. Carl Wilhelm von Zehender (1819-1916)--first professor of ophthalmology and co-founder of the ophthalmological clinic at the University of Rostock--commemorative lecture at the 100th DOG meeting in Berlin from 26.9 to 29.9.2002].
The Grand-ducal University Eye Department in Rostock was solemnly inaugurated 16 May 1892. According to many years of studies in Europe and on efforts to build this clinic, construction was outlined by Professor Carl Wilhelm v. Zehender, but the drafts were executed by the "Grossherzoglich-Mecklenburgisch-Schwerinschen Medicinalcommission" and Landbaumeister Schlosser in winter 1888/89. Professor v. Zehender, who originated from a very ancient Swiss family, was born in Bremen, 21 May 1819. He studied medicine in Goettingen, Jena, Prague, Paris and Vienna. During this time he developed a lifelong friendship with Albrecht v. Graefe. 1856 he took over the medical care for the hereditary duke Georg von Mecklenburg-Strelitz and published the "Correspondenzblatt für Aerzte im Grossherzoglichen Mecklenburg-Strelitz". 1857, during a conference in Heidelberg, his initiative led in the long run to the establishment of the "Heidelberger Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft", the forerunner of the "Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft", which was founded in 1920. In 1863 the first edition of "Klinische Monatsblaetter für Augenheilkunde" was published as a periodical; the cover page bore its name as the founder of the magazine. In 1866, after the death of the hereditary duke and a professorship in his hometown Berne, he became honorary professor of the Rostock University, and from 1869 onwards he chaired the clinic as a regular professor. After all his efforts to build his own hospital had failed, he demonstratively and finally resigned from his professorship in 1889. He went to Munich and became editor of the " Klinische Monatsblaetter für Augenheilkunde". In 1907 he moved with his wife via Eutin to Warnemuende. There the nestor of world ophthalmologists died at the age of 98. His burial place without gravestone is situated in today's landscape park "Stephan Jantzen". So far all efforts of the author and of the Rostock University Eye Department taken after 1980 to create a worthy note to this exceptional ophthalmologist in the Baltic Sea resort Warnemuende were unsuccessful, also for financial reasons. But on 2.9.2002 with the help of the Lighthouse Club of Warnemuende a memorial plaque to Prof. C. W. v. Zehender was mounted on the guest house "Margarete". This plaque commemorates Professor Zehender's merits in establishing the DOG, planning and building the eye clinic of the university of Rostock.
Stave
Joachim
J
Augenklinik der Universität Rostock. joachim.stave@med.uni-rostock.de
Guthoff
Rudolf
R
D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000266:history*; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000266:history*