1. Joseph Barth was a Maltese-born Austrian ophthalmologist.
12 Facts About Joseph Barth
1. 2.
Joseph Barth is believed to have been the first professor of ophthalmology.
3.
Joseph Barth studied at the Anatomical and Surgical School at Sacra Infermeria in Valletta, the Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome, the University of Vienna.
4.
Joseph Barth earned his medical doctorate from Vienna in 1772.
5.
Joseph Barth was appointed Public Teacher in Ophthalmology and Anatomy, Professor of Ophthalmology and Anatomy and Oculist and Professor of Physiology at the University of Vienna; he was nominated Royal Counsellor and appointed oculist to Emperor Joseph II ; he retired in 1791 but maintained the post of personal imperial physician and ophthalmologist until his death.
6.
Joseph Barth was to gain renown in ophthalmologic practice and to occupy the first Chair of Ophthalmology in Europe, at the Medical University of Vienna.
7.
The professorship occupied by Barth remained the leader in ophthalmology with the subsequent professorship being instituted in Berlin only in 1866.
8.
Joseph Barth opened a private nursing home and the first public eye clinic in the Vienna General Hospital in 1784, wherein he operated on cases of cataract.
9.
Joseph Barth apparently designed the original version of the "Beer's knife" that was modified and popularised by his student.
10.
Joseph Barth's clinical renown led to his appointment as Imperial Oculist after he successfully treated Kaiser Joseph II of a stubborn "ophthalmitis".
11.
Joseph Barth established an Anatomical Museum that housed an assembly of 1576 specimens, some prepared by Barth himself.
12.
Joseph Barth founded a medical library that contained 1500 volumes.