Julius Vincenz von Krombholz

Portrait of Krombholz

Julius Vincenz von Krombholz (born December 19, 1782 in Oberpolitz , † November 1, 1843 in Prague ) was a Bohemian , k. k. Austrian doctor, botanist and mycologist .

Live and act

Plaque on his birthplace in Oberpolitz

From 1803 he studied medicine at the Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague and received his doctorate in 1814. In 1828 he was appointed professor for special pathology and therapy. First he worked at the anatomical institute, later he became an internationally recognized doctor and surgeon.

He also served as professor of forensic medicine and from 1825–1836 as director of the department of internal medicine in the General Hospital on Charles Square in Prague. In 1827 he founded a hospital library for medical students and doctors, and in 1833 a foundation to support poor students who, among other things, were treated free of charge. He was known as a supporter of poor students, among other things he helped the penniless August Karl Joseph Corda (1809–1849) that he was admitted to study.

In the Napoleonic Wars of 1813-1814 he distinguished himself in caring for the wounded. He also treated the sick during the cholera epidemic in Prague in 1831. In the same year he was appointed rector of Charles University in Prague. In 1837 he was ennobled for his medical and educational services as "Edler von Krombholz". In 1838 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina .

He was buried in the Olšansy (Olšanské hřbitovy) cemetery in the Žižkov district , and his mummified heart is still kept in the first department of internal medicine at Charles University in Prague. In 2011 a memorial plaque was placed on his mother's house in Oberpolitz.

Contributions

In addition to his career in medicine, Krombholz had a great interest in mycology. He carried out numerous experiments on the toxicity of mushrooms. His work Lifelike Images and Descriptions of Edible, Harmful and Suspicious Sponges (1831–1846) is based on his own observations and is known for his lifelike images and descriptions of edible, suspicious and poisonous mushrooms. Krombholz died before the final completion of his work, so the last sections of the work by Johann Baptist Zobel (1812-1865) were added.

A number of mushrooms were first described by Krombholz. Hence the standard botanical author abbreviation “ Krombh. “Applied along with the scientific name of these species. The genus Krombholzia (Synonym Zeugites) from the Poaceae family was named in his honor.

In 1837 Krombholz also published a guide to Prague with important addresses for scientists and doctors.

He has published all of his publications in German.

Works

• Treatises from the field of the entire acology, to establish a system of the same. 1825
• Anatomical description of a very strange anencephalus (with three copper plates). 1830
• General report on Asiatic cholera in Prague in 1831 and 1832 based on the experiences gained in the cholera hospitals. 1836
• Lifelike images and descriptions of the edible, harmful and suspicious sponges. Prague 1831–1846 doi: 10.5962 / bhl.title.15756
• Topographical paperback from Prague initially for doctors and naturalists. 1837

Illustrations from the mushroom book by Krombholz

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literature

• Constantin von Wurzbach : Krombholz, Vincenz Julius Edler von . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 13th part. Imperial and Royal Court and State Printing Office, Vienna 1865, pp. 247–251 ( digitized version ).
• Ernst Gurlt:  Krombholz, Julius Vincenz Edler von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 17, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1883, pp. 184-188.
• Koerting-Matoušková:  Krombholz, Julius Vincenz von. In: Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 4, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 1969, p. 289.

Web links

Commons : Julius Vincenz von Krombholz  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Article about Krombholz
• Short biography of Krombholz