Feldscher
The Feldscher (plural: Feldschere ) was a healer who surgically treated wounds of soldiers . Not until the 18th century did he undergo partial academic training. The name originated in Switzerland in the 14th century, originally in the form of Feldscherer .
Historical
The field doctor or surgeon is to be differentiated from the academically trained physician who acquired his knowledge at universities. The Feldscher acquired his knowledge of medicine and dental care through training with semi-professional laypeople: the (beard) clippers, barbers, bathers , farriers and, rarely, the socially ostracized executioner (who acquired his anatomical knowledge on the torture bench). They acquired their knowledge as apprentices and in turn passed it on to them.
For the first time, field scissors were firmly integrated into a military organization among the mercenaries . Here one per company and his assistants looked after the sick and the wounded. The main medical tasks were bloodletting and cupping , burning out wounds with a hot iron, pulling out bullets, straightening limbs and amputating them . The field clerk received double wages, plus extra money from sick people if the injury or illness was acquired "outside of the service".
Medieval and early modern specialist books for field scissors and surgeons, which deal with the treatment of injuries caused by various types of weapons, were given the designation field book (e.g. by Hans von Gersdorff ) .
Another textbook for surgeons published in 1774 states: “Unfortunately, our surgeons are mostly trained at the barber's pool. They are apprentices to the barbers and bathers for three years. After this time they become journeymen and have learned nothing more than brushing their beards, putting on plasters and bleeding [...] Many cannot even read. "
Since the early 18th century, regimental field scissors had been given academic training at surgical schools. This improved their reputation considerably. In most armies they were given officer rank since the middle of the 18th century, the terms Regimentschirurgus and Regimentsmedicus have meanwhile often been incorrectly used synonymously. Subordinate to them were the non-academically trained company field scissors (now sergeants or sergeants of equal rank) and their assistants.
With the standardization of medical education in the middle of the 19th century, its previous division into two ends. The modern, well-trained military doctor replaced the traditional medicus and field scissors or field doctor and field surgeon .
20th century
Russia
In the Russian armed forces there is still the Feldscher ( Фельдшер ) as the lowest level of the military doctor. In the Soviet Union and in today's Russia , the Feldscher was and is also active in the civilian sector as a medical assistant, who holds consultation hours independently - preferably in rural areas.
Field scissors were and are trained in technical schools in Russia. A main area of application is medical prophylaxis (hygiene) and basic medical care. They refer more severe cases to the next higher level of medical care.
Bulgaria
Much like in Russia, a field clerk in Bulgaria independently runs small rural outpatient clinics in places with less than 4,000 inhabitants. The nurses are subordinate to the Feldscher. The training time, reputation and pay are roughly somewhere between a nurse and a doctor.
GDR
In the GDR , medical assistants were trained for friendly developing countries (African states, Afghanistan) until 1989. Since there is an extreme and acute shortage of doctors in developing countries, it has been possible to secure a certain amount of basic medical care. The training of these half-doctors was much cheaper than that of doctors.
In the National People's Army of the GDR, field scissors were trained for three years at the officers' schools for rearward services in Erfurt until 1967, and in Zittau from 1963 (medical college training). Parts of the training (section) took place at the Medical Academy in Erfurt . In every battalion of the NVA there was a medical train whose head was a Feldscher with the post of captain . His medical expertise included EVH (First Pre-Medical Aid), the treatment of traumatic shock; continued the training of lower medical personnel and first aid training for officers, NCOs and soldiers. In the lower levels of the army (platoon, company , battalion) he organized the removal of the wounded from the battlefield.
After corresponding courses for vaccinators, the Feldscher received the right to vaccinate smallpox , typhus , influenza and tetanus . For one month in the calendar year the field clerk worked in the hospital or in the field hospital for personal further training. There he was also used as an assistant in surgical interventions. There were field scissors that independently ran a skin ward. From 1967 the field scissors were trained according to the Soviet model. Their training time was now only one year, after which they were appointed ensign . The rank group of the ensigns was interposed with those of the NCOs and officers (men, NCOs, ensigns, officers).
recognition
Since the profession is unknown in Western Europe today, there is no professional class corresponding to the training when moving from Eastern Europe. Future vocational training then falls into a lower class.
“Holders of a Bulgarian qualification for the profession of 'фелдшер' (literally from the German: 'Feldscher') are not entitled to have their professional qualification in other Member States under this directive than that of a doctor or a nurse recognized for general care. 'Фелдшер' ('Feldscher') are therefore not entitled to apply for approval in general health care and nursing (as a “qualified health and nurse”); They can, however, submit an application for admission to the practice of nursing care. "
literature
- Ernst Consentius (ed.): Master Johann Dietz. The great elector Feldscher and royal barber. Based on the old manuscript in the Royal Library in Berlin. = Master Johann Dietz tells his life (= fate and adventure. Vol. 11, ZDB -ID 513000-1 ). Pressed for the first time. Langewiesche-Brandt, Ebenhausen near Munich 1915, digitized on Commons ( DjVu format)
- Simone Trieder : Feldscher, Kratzer, Beutler. Past working worlds (= Central German cultural history books 15). Hasenverlag, Halle 2009, ISBN 978-3-939468-20-2 .
Sources on the history of field scissors
- Conrad Brunner : The wounded in the wars of the old Confederation. History of military medical services and war surgery in Swiss countries from the beginning of the Confederation to 1798. 2 parts. Laupp, Tübingen 1903 (Part 1 also in: Contributions to clinical surgery. Vol. 37, 1901, ZDB -ID 125341-4 , pp. 1-174).
- Franz Hermann Frölich: History about the military medicine of the Germans in antiquity and the Middle Ages. In: German archive for the history of medicine and medical geography. Vol. 3, 1880, ZDB -ID 527039-x , pp. 222-256.
- Franz Hermann Frölich: About the beginnings of military medicine in the Middle Ages. In: German archive for the history of medicine and medical geography. Vol. 5, 1882, pp. 75-80.
- Nicolai Guleke : War Surgery and War Surgeons through the Ages. Lecture given on June 19, 1944 to medical students at the University of Jena. Fischer, Jena 1945.
- Ralf Vollmuth: The medical service in the Landsknechtsheeren of the late Middle Ages and early modern times. Problems and possible solutions (= Würzburg medical historical research. Vol. 51). Königshausen and Neumann, Würzburg 1991, ISBN 3-88479-800-6 (Also: Würzburg, University, dissertation, 1990).
- Gustav Wolzendorff: The field surgery of Felix Würtz. A historical study. In: The military doctor. Vol. 11, 1877, ISSN 1012-7291 , Col. 49-52 , 59-62 , 66-68 and 81-84 .
- Peter Kolmsee: Under the sign of Aesculapia. An introduction to the history of the military medical service from the very beginning to the end of the First World War . Articles military medicine and military pharmacy, vol. 11. Beta Verlag, Bonn 1997, ISBN 3-927603-14-7 .
- The decline of aid for the wounded and the sick and of field shearing in the Thirty Years' War , pp. 52–54.
- Feldscherer in the Turkish Wars and in the service of German electors. Military Health and Early Awareness , pp. 56–60.
Web links
- On the history of the Feldscher
- Dissertation on "Lower Surgery"
- EU directive on the mutual recognition of diplomas (PDF)
Individual evidence
- ^ Duden online: Feldscher
- ^ Latin description of the profession in Hartmann Schopper's stand book
- ↑ Gundolf Keil : 'Prager Wundarznei'. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil, Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , p. 1181.
- ↑ Hilde-Marie Groß, Gundolf Keil (ed.): 'Wiltu die wunde wol bewarn'. A guide to emergency medical care from late medieval Silesia. In: Specialized prose research - Grenzüberreitungen 2/3, 2006/07, pp. 113-134.
- ↑ Information on admission to practice in general health and nursing from the country of origin Republic of Bulgaria ( Memento from January 31, 2012 in the Internet Archive )