Von der Nervenabteilung zur Neurologischen Klinik - die Etablierung des Heidelberger Lehrstuhls für Neurologie 1883 -1969

Abstract

During the 20th century clinical neurology developed to a fully established discipline being descended from Psychiatry and Internal Medicine. In this paper the development of clinical neurology at the University of Heidelberg from a Nervenabteilung at the clinic for internal medicine to a chair with separate clinic of neurology is outlined as an example for the controversy which accompanied the institutionalization of the discipline in Germany. Pointing out motives and arguments of the persons involved in this process the specific circumstances of the development of neurology in Germany are stated more precisely.

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“…Die Suche nach einem Nachfolger Viktor von Weizäckers auf den Heidelberger Lehrstuhl für Neurologie dauerte nicht lange und konnte mit der Berufung Paul Vogels (1900 ± 1979) aus Berlin noch im Jahr 1941 abgeschlossen werden [2]. Obschon dieser anlässlich der Berufungsverhandlungen die Einrichtung eines etatisierten Ordinariats für Neurologie durchzusetzen versuchte, wurde er zunächst als auûerordentlicher Professor berufen.…”

“…Abweichend von den meisten anderen deutschen Universitäten hatte die Neurologie in Heidelberg bereits relativ früh eine gewisse institutionelle Eigenständigkeit erlangt [2]. Bedingt durch die Vorarbeiten und das Engagement der Heidelberger Neurointernisten bzw.…”

A History of Neurology in Toronto 1892–1960: Part I

“…The jurisdictional struggles among the groups in Germany was only partly resolved by the building of combined neurologic and psychiatric "kliniks" (hospitals) to be staffed by university faculty, so that "hot battles" between internal medicine and these neuro-psychiatric kliniks for the "immediate realm of neurology" continued. 6 Alienists and the more psychiatrically-oriented, as they are now regarded, viewed pure organic neurology as the easy province in the domain in terms of both management and research and often resented the apparent skimming by organically-oriented neurologists of the more obvious organic disorders and asserted the right to investigate and treat all forms of nervous system disease, whether organic or psychological.' Struggles between internal medicine and the neuropsychiatric kliniks for neurology have continued to the present in Germany.…”

“…Struggles between internal medicine and the neuropsychiatric kliniks for neurology have continued to the present in Germany. 6 A "pure" neurology was formally institutionalized first in France with the establishment of "La Chaire de la Clinique des Maladies du System Nerveux" at the SalpetrieYe in 1872 recognizing the monumental descriptive clinical-pathological work of the first occupant, Jean-Martin Charcot (note 2). In England, the founding of hospitals for epilepsy and paralysis in London fostered the study of organic disorders and the development of diagnostic precision that has come to define a neurology strongly rooted in organic neurobiology (note 3).…”

“…Their somatic views were readily discounted by editorialists in the New York Times and other papers. 6. In Canada, the purview of neurology is determined by the Specialty Training Requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the statutory body that certifies qualifications for medical specialists.…”