Lorenz Biermayer and the developement of the Pathologic-anatomical Collection in the Fools Tower

Abstract

The history of the Pathologic-anatomical Collection in the Fools Tower dates back to the eighteenth century. After a brief summery of the events leading to the creation of the museum, the life and work of Lorenz Biermayer (1778-1843) is examined. The first autopsy records from 1817 can be traced back to him and he was an important figure in the founding of the medical collection which still exists today. His period of office (1812-1829), especially the museum catalog and its publications started by him, are described. Finally, all of Biermayer's successors are briefly outlined.

The pathological anatomical collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna

“…In addition, papers that were provided by the authors to the collection curator were also included in our reference review. About 20 scientific papers published as articles in journals and two textbooks [ 9 , 24 ] directly refer to specific specimens curated at the pathological anatomical collection. The latter are oriented towards collection history [ 9 ] and to communicate propaedeutics of pathology with different perspectives and research [ 24 ].…”

“…A solution emerged in 1811 with the new head of the General Hospital, Valentin von Hildenbrand (1763–1818), who appointed Lorenz Biermayer (1778–1843) as pathological prosector and custos of the museum (from 1812) [ 6 ]. He wrote the first museum catalogue, begun in 1813 and preserved to this day [ 9 ]. At the same time, the medical and teaching issues in the monarchy were regulated by the authorities, which also included the handling of the bodies of the deceased.…”

“…In 1974, the Federal Ministry of Science and Research changed the status of the collection by upgrading it to a federal museum (Federal Pathological-Anatomical Museum in Vienna) with a complete administrative, personnel, and financial autonomy. “Austria was now the only country to have a state museum for medical preparations, and the collection was secured” [ 9 ]. At that time, the museum’s inventory amounted to about 14,000 specimens.…”

“…Since the 1980s, when many institutions and other stakeholders were unable to guarantee the appropriate care of a collection of pathologically altered human body parts for spatial or financial reasons, the transfer to the Federal Pathological-Anatomical Museum probably offered an alternative depository—committed to ethical principles. Donors/persons in charge and institutions that handed over their collections are listed below (see [ 9 ]).…”

Insight into the history of anatomopathological museums – Part 1. From casual assemblages to scientific collections

“…Much of the credit for creating the anatomical collection belongs to Lorenz Biermayer (1778-1843), who from 1813 maintained a catalogue of specimens later continued by his successors, including Karl von Rokitansky (1804-1878), who between 1832 and 1875 was a chairman of the board of the Pathology Institute and a museum. The collection features several types of specimens -macerates (human and animal dry specimens of bones and other body parts with pathological changes), as well as wet ones -cadaveric parts with pathological changes, preserved in jars with formalin [33,34]. …”