Date of birth: 26/04/1929

Date of death: 06/02/1894

Wikipedia

BIOGRAPHY

Christian Albert Theodor Billroth was a German surgeon. After studying medicine at Greifswald and Göttingen universities, he worked under Bernhard von Langenbeck in Berlin and became the chief of the surgical clinic in Zurich. Later, he was appointed professor of surgery at Vienna University.

One of his main areas of research was surgical site infections. Billroth made significant contributions, including performing the first esophagectomy in 1872, laryngectomy in 1873, and resection of rectal cancer. In 1881, he conducted the first successful partial gastrectomy, known as the Billroth I operation.

He published over 140 papers and books, creating his own school of surgery. His notable disciples include Alexander von Winiwarter, Jan Mikulicz-Radecki, and John B. Murphy.

Billroth is often regarded as the father of modern abdominal surgery. He was also an amateur musician and a close friend of Johannes Brahms, to whom Brahms dedicated his first two string quartets.