The identification of specialized nerve endings for temperature perception significantly advanced nineteenth-century physiological research. Alfred Goldscheider, a German physician and neurologist, established much of this foundational understanding through his systematic investigation of somatosensory functions. His career bridged the gap between military service and high-level academic medicine, leaving a legacy reflected in both clinical techniques and medical literature.
Academic Foundation and Early Service
Born in 1858 in Lubsko, Alfred Goldscheider pursued his medical education at the Friedrich-Wilhelm Medical-Surgical Institute in Berlin, where he completed his promotion in 1881. Following his formal training, he dedicated seven years to work as a military physician. During this phase, he also served as an assistant to the physiologist Emil du Bois-Reymond, an experience that likely informed his subsequent focus on sensory physiology and laboratory research.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Neurological Research and Sensory Systems
Goldscheider gained prominence for his inquiry into the somatosensory system. His research isolated specific thermoreceptors responsible for detecting warmth and coolness on the skin. Simultaneously, he examined tactile sensitivity, incorporating assessments of pain and tickle sensations into his findings. His methodology resulted in the development of Goldscheider's test and Goldscheider's percussion. During the early 1880s, he operated independently of the Swedish physician Magnus Blix, who was conducting similar investigations at the University of Uppsala. Beyond his sensory studies, he collaborated with Edward Flatau in the late 1890s to analyze the structure of nerve cells and their reactions to varying stimuli.
Clinical Leadership and Appointments
His professional trajectory led to significant appointments within the Berlin medical establishment. Starting in 1894, he served as the directing physician at Krankenhaus Moabit, followed by a tenure at the Virchow-Krankenhaus beginning in 1906. By 1910, he succeeded Hermann Senator at the polyclinic. Throughout his career, Goldscheider maintained a long-standing association with the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where he served as a professor. His work extended into the classification of medical conditions, most notably in his description of the skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa, which is sometimes referred to as Goldscheider's disease.
Published Contributions
Goldscheider produced a substantial body of academic literature throughout his tenure. His early work, Die lehre von den specifischen energieen der sinnesnerven, appeared in 1881. Subsequent publications included Diagnostik der nervenkrankheiten in 1893 and Physiologie der Hautsinnesnerven in 1898. He also authored practical manuals, such as his 1899 guide for the exercise treatment of ataxia, and later research on pain, titled Das Schmerzproblem, published in 1920.
Fast facts
- Born: 1858, Lubsko
- Died: 1935, Berlin
- Citizenship: Germany
- Primary Fields: Internal medicine, neurology, military medicine
- Burial Site: Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Cemetery
- Collaborator: Edward Flatau
Questions readers ask
What specific medical condition is associated with his name?
Alfred Goldscheider is credited with describing the skin disorder epidermolysis bullosa, a condition occasionally known as Goldscheider's disease.
Where did Goldscheider hold his clinical positions?
He was the directing physician at Krankenhaus Moabit starting in 1894 and later at the Virchow-Krankenhaus starting in 1906.
Achievements
- Held posts at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
- Fields: medicine, internal medicine and neurology
.jpg)
