The construction of an independent psychiatric clinic at the University of Würzburg in 1893 was initiated by Konrad Rieger. Born in Calw in 1855, he established his career as a psychiatrist within the German Reich, contributing to the development of early clinical practices before his death in Würzburg in 1939.
Academic and Clinical Career
Rieger pursued medical training at the University of Tübingen and the University of Würzburg, earning his doctorate in 1878. Following his education, he joined the staff at the Juliusspital in Würzburg, working as an assistant under Franz von Rinecker. He achieved his habilitation in the field of psychiatry in 1882. By 1887, he served as an associate professor and assumed the role of head physician at the Juliusspital psychiatric ward. His professional trajectory culminated in 1895, when he attained the status of full professor at the university.
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In 1884, Rieger engaged in experimental work concerning muscular endurance and hypnosis. This inquiry preceded the formal adoption of the term sport psychology, which appeared in 1900. His broader scientific investigations focused on various psychological and neurological topics, including aphasia, defects in human intelligence, psychic epidemia, and the observation of hypnotic catalepsy within animal subjects.
Selected Publications
Rieger produced several texts throughout his career. His 1884 publication, Der Hypnotismus, was co-authored with Hans Virchow and examined the nature of hypnotic states. Other significant works included his 1885 treatise on craniography, and a collaborative effort with Otto Tippel in 1885 titled Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die Willensthätigkeit. He also authored a 1886 textbook regarding medical electricity and a 1888 study detailing intellectual impairments following cerebral trauma, which included a proposed system for testing cognitive function.
Fast facts
- Born: 1855, Calw
- Died: 1939, Würzburg
- Doctorate awarded: 1878
- Habilitation: 1882
- Full Professor: 1895
- Nationality: German Reich
- Primary Employer: University of Würzburg
Questions readers ask
Where did Konrad Rieger receive his medical education?
He studied at the University of Tübingen and the University of Würzburg.
What major facility did Rieger help establish?
He initiated the construction of an independent psychiatric clinic at the University of Würzburg in 1893.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Würzburg
