Karl von den Steinen is remembered in medicine for work that altered practice rather than merely argument.
The record lists Karl von den Steinen as German physician, ethnologist, explorer, ancient Americanist and writer (1855-1929).
Karl von den Steinen was born at Mülheim an der Ruhr in 1855. His recorded nationality is Germany.
Anaesthesia, antisepsis and germ theory arrived within fifty years and made modern surgery possible for the first time.
His posts were held at University of Marburg and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Most medical progress is invisible: it shows up as an illness that no longer kills anyone.
Recognition followed: Cothenius Medal (1894) and Carl-Ritter-Medal (1886).
That the work was done from Germany matters: hospitals, training and research funding are unevenly distributed, and they decide which questions can be asked.
Karl von den Steinen died in 1929, aged 74. What survives is the change in practice, which is how a medical life is actually measured.
Achievements
- Cothenius Medal — 1894
- Carl-Ritter-Medal — 1886
- Held posts at University of Marburg and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
