| Date | 1912 |
|---|---|
| Location | Frankfurt |
| Description |
Ludwig Rehn (1849-1930) a German surgeon is best remembered for carrying out the first worldwide successful cardiac operation in 1896. This was performed on a stab wound to the heart of a 22 year old gardener. Prior to this landmark operation, Rhen was already well known for his work on surgery of the thyroid (he carried out the first thyroidectomy in 1880) and appendix. He is also credited for clarifying the causes of cancer in workers in the local aniline factories. Although beginning his career as a general practitioner, Rhen opened a small private surgical clinic in Frankfurt, before taking up an appointment as Surgical Director at the newly founded Frankfurt University, where he later became Professor of Surgery. During World War I he served as a surgeon general. |
| Format | Photograph |
| Original Index Number | 194 |
