Karl Koller (ophthalmologist)
| Karl Koller | |
|---|---|
|
Karl Koller | |
| Born |
December 3, 1857 Schüttenhofen, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) |
| Died |
March 21, 1944 (aged 86) New York City, United States |
| Nationality | Austria |
| Fields | Ophthalmology |
| Known for | Cocaine as a local anaesthetic |
| Influences | Sigmund Freud |
Karl Koller (December 3, 1857 – March 21, 1944) was an Austrian ophthalmologist who began his medical career as a surgeon at the Vienna General Hospital and a colleague of Sigmund Freud.
Koller introduced cocaine as a local anaesthetic for eye surgery. Prior to this discovery, he had tested solutions such as chloral hydrate and morphine as anaesthetics in the eyes of laboratory animals without success. Freud was fully aware of the pain-killing properties of cocaine, but Koller recognized its tissue-numbing capabilities, and in 1884 demonstrated its potential as a local anaesthetic to the medical community. Koller's findings were a medical breakthrough. Prior to his discovery, performing eye surgery was difficult because the involuntary reflex motions of the eye to respond to the slightest stimuli. Later, cocaine was also used as a local anaesthetic in other medical fields such as dentistry. In the 20th century, other agents such as Xylocaine have replaced cocaine as a local anaesthetic.
In 1888, Karl Koller moved to the United States and practiced ophthalmology in New York. He received many distinctions in his career, including being honored by the American Ophthalmological Society as the first recipient of the "Lucien Howe Medal" in 1922. This award is given to physicians in recognition of outstanding achievements in ophthalmology. In 1930 he was also honored by the Medical Association of Vienna.
One of Koller's patients was a blind ten-year-old boy named Chauncey D. Leake. Leake recovered his sight and, as an adult, discovered the anaesthetic divinyl ether.
Koller was reputedly nicknamed "Coca Koller" for his association with the drug and although he was implored to recognise his status as a public figure due to his discovery of local anaesthesia, he did not engage in autobiography.
See also
References
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- Honegger, H; Hessler H (September 1970). "[Discovery of local anesthesia by Karl Koller. I]". Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde. West Germany. 157 (3): 428–38. ISSN 0023-2165. PMID 4922411.
- PILLAT, A (May 1958). "[The 100th anniversary of Dr. Karl Koller's birth.]". Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. Not Available. 70 (21): 381. ISSN 0043-5325. PMID 13570066.
- "Victory Over Pain-A History of Anaesthesia" by Victor Robinson p246-256