From the sword to Schindler: a saga of gastroscopy.
Gastroscopy is an art as well as a science. The art is getting the instrument down; the science is the instrument itself. Rudolf Schindler was a master of both and is properly called "The Father Of Gastroscopy". He can also be called a renaissance man, so varied were his interests. Sword-swallowing played a minor but interesting role in the development of gastroscopy. It is still alive and well.
Morgenstern
Leon
L
Center for Health Care Ethics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Boulevard, Becker Building, Suite 216, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. morgenstern@cshs.org
D003679:Deglutition; D020699:Gastroscopes / Q000266:history*; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture