Alexander Spengler

The remote settlement of Davos transformed into a specialized health resort after Alexander Spengler, a German physician, identified its unique potential for treating pulmonary tuberculosis. By challenging contemporary medical beliefs that favored Mediterranean climates, Spengler implemented a regimen centered on high-altitude exposure, dietary adjustments, and cold-temperature therapy that redefined the therapeutic approach for patients suffering from phthisis.

Early Life and Political Exile

Born in Mannheim in 1827, Spengler was the eldest son of school teacher Johann Philipp Spengler. He began his higher education in 1846 by studying law at the University of Heidelberg, where he became a member of the Corps Suevia. His trajectory shifted during the Baden Revolution of 1848/1849, leading to his expatriation from the Grand Duchy of Baden for desertion in 1850. Seeking refuge in Zurich, he transitioned from legal studies to medicine, eventually passing his medical examinations in 1853.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Establishment in Davos

Upon moving to the isolated region of Davos to serve as a county doctor, Spengler observed a critical absence of pulmonary tuberculosis among the local population. He hypothesized that the high-altitude environment offered curative properties, directly contradicting the prevailing medical doctrine that advocated for warmer coastal climates. To secure his permanent residency and marry Elisabeth Ambühl, the daughter of a pastry chef, he petitioned the Grand Council and obtained naturalization in June 1855, demonstrating the required assets of 2000 francs.

Clinical Methodology

Spengler’s treatment protocols emphasized climate-based intervention supported by rigorous meteorological observations. His dietary recommendations included milk and red Veltliner, while physical therapies utilized marmot fat rubbed onto the thorax, alongside cold showers and measures to reduce systemic body temperature. For patients in advanced stages of the disease, he employed morphine to manage severe coughing. This work paved the way for his sons, Carl and Lucius Spengler, to continue his legacy as pulmonologists in the region.