18 Facts About Julius Dreschfeld

Julius Dreschfeld FRCP was a leading British physician and pathologist.

Julius Dreschfeld was born as the youngest of ten siblings on 13 October 1845 at Niederwerrn, in the Schweinfurt district of Bavaria.

Julius Dreschfeld knew little of the English language but continued his studies at Owens College, Manchester and the Manchester Royal School of Medicine.

Julius Dreschfeld excelled in chemistry and mathematics, as well as in English, and was influenced by Henry Enfield Roscoe.

Julius Dreschfeld then pursued further medical studies at the University of Wurzburg from 1864, from where he gained his MD degree in 1867.

Julius Dreschfeld served as an assistant surgeon in the Bavarian Army during the brief Austro-Prussian War of 1866.

Julius Dreschfeld's skills were soon acknowledged and in 1872 he was appointed as an honorary assistant physician at Hulme Dispensary.

In 1899, Julius Dreschfeld became honorary senior physician and in 1905 he became the hospital's first honorary consulting physician.

Julius Dreschfeld had a particular interest in the pathology of diseases of the nervous system and had been appointed a lecturer in pathology at the Owens College, Manchester, in 1876 after spending some time overseeing a collection in its medical museum.

Julius Dreschfeld explained in the British Medical Journal that the experiments had to be carried out immediately after the death of a rabies victim, and there was never sufficient time to apply for the necessary animal licence.

Julius Dreschfeld thought the act was too restrictive, and was holding back medical research in Britain.

Julius Dreschfeld succeeded John Edward Morgan in this role and is unique in having held both chairs.

Julius Dreschfeld was at various times president both of the pathological and medicine sections of the British Medical Association and involved in several other learned associations.

Julius Dreschfeld published numerous scientific papers in English and German journals.

Julius Dreschfeld delivered the Bradshaw Lecture to the Royal College of Physicians on Diabetic Coma in 1886.

Julius Dreschfeld had been preparing to fulfil an invitation to give the annual Lumleian Lecture at the time of his death from heart failure on 13 June 1907 at his home in Withington.

Julius Dreschfeld had thought that he had been suffering from influenza.

Julius Dreschfeld had converted from Judaism to Anglicanism and was buried at Holy Trinity, Southport.