The disease of emperor frederick III

Abstract

The disease and death of German Emperor Frederick III has often been described in historical and medical treaties. These were all based on official political and medical reports published during 1887-1888, the time of the disease. The assertion of laryngologists, made while Frederick III was still alive, that the laryngeal carcinoma developed from a specific syphilitic infection is examined here. On the basis of the relevant laryngological literature, as well as less well-known sources, the probability of this assumption, the particular symptoms, and the fulminant course of the disease are documented. The behavior and the personality of Sir Morell Mackenzie is accordingly seen in a different light than in the past.

A historical review of head and neck cancer in celebrities

“…18 However, it was virtually impossible to state publicly that the future emperor of Germany was suffering from a venereal disease. Minnigerode 19 states that this diagnosis had already been suspected by the German laryngologist M Schmidt. However, Schmidt had to withdraw a statement to this effect, which he had made during a meeting of the medical society of the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main in November 1887.…”

“…However, Schmidt had to withdraw a statement to this effect, which he had made during a meeting of the medical society of the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main in November 1887. 19 Laurenson 20 shows convincingly that it is very unlikely that Frederick contracted syphilis in Egypt.…”

Highlights in the Evolution of Diagnosis and Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer

“… 11 Apart from his medical achievements, he is also well known for the unsuccessful treatment of Prince Frederick of Prussia, who had a laryngeal tumor. 15–19 Probably misled by the repeatedly negative histological reports of the famous pathologist Virchow, MacKenzie delayed performing a total laryngectomy. This led to the death of the liberal Prince Frederick, who was succeeded by a more militaristic and expansionistic political regime, a fact that probably affected all of Europe.…”

Wybrane wydarzenia w historii medycyny, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zagadnień związanych z rakiem. Część 4: Od Theodora van Frerichsa (1819–1885) do Ernsta Neumanna (1834–1918)

“…Tak długo, jak guz nie zajmował otaczających tkanek, nie uznawano go za postać złośliwą -to opóźniło decyzję o leczeniu cesarza. Mackenzie był też w 1887 roku jednym z założycieli Journal of Laryngology & Rhinology [77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88]. [89][90][91][92][93][94][95].…”