Botanical research in Caldas between 1867 and 1869 marked the early scientific endeavors of Salomon Eberhard Henschen, long before he became a defining figure in Swedish neurology. Following his initial field studies in Brazil, he pivoted to clinical medicine, eventually serving as a professor at both Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.
Academic Foundations and Early Career
Born at the Uppsala Cathedral Assembly in 1847, Henschen began his medical training at Uppsala University in 1862. During his student years, he supported himself by teaching natural sciences at the Fjellstedt School. Under the mentorship of Axel Key, he refined his pathology skills before moving to Stockholm University, where he earned his medical license in 1877. He later pursued doctoral studies in Leipzig under Carl Ludwig, graduating in 1879 with a dissertation on renal excretion.
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Henschen spent his career investigating the structure and function of the brain, specifically focusing on the visual pathways and the occipital lobe. His expansive work, Klinische und anatomische Beiträge zur Pathologie des Gehirns, spanned several decades and multiple editions. Beyond his studies on aphasia, he identified athletic heart syndrome in the late 19th century. Later in his career, he focused on cognitive impairments, officially describing dyscalculia in 1919 and coining the term acalculia in 1925.
Professional Honors and Research Reach
His research output was recognized with numerous honors, including the Letterstedt Prize and the Retzius Gold Medal. He held memberships in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg. Academic institutions acknowledged his influence by granting him honorary doctorates at Uppsala University, the University of Halle, and the University of Padua. He also contributed to public health literature, including works on tuberculosis and medical perspectives on marriage.
Fast facts
- Born: 1847, Uppsala Cathedral Assembly
- Died: 1930, Johannes parish
- Education: Uppsala University, Stockholm University
- Key Appointments: Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet
- Memberships: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg
- Field of Study: Neurology, Internal Medicine, Botany
- Notable Works: Klinische und anatomische Beiträge zur Pathologie des Gehirns
- Burial Site: Uppsala Old Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What specific brain conditions did Henschen define?
He is credited with the 1919 description of dyscalculia and the 1925 introduction of the term acalculia to describe brain-damaged patients with impaired mathematical abilities.
Was he solely a medical doctor?
No, he also worked as a university teacher and conducted significant botanical research, including the publication of studies on the genus Peperomia.
Achievements
- Held posts at Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University
