Nikolaus Friedreich (1 July 1825 in Würzburg – 6 July 1882 in Heidelberg) was a German pathologist and neurologist, and a third generation physician in the Friedreich family. His father was psychiatrist Johann Baptist Friedreich (1796–1862), and his grandfather was pathologist Nicolaus Anton Friedreich (1761–1836), who is remembered for his early description of idiopathic facial paralysis, which would later be known as Bell's palsy.[1]

Nikolaus Friedreich
Born(1825-07-01)1 July 1825
Died6 July 1882(1882-07-06) (aged 57)
NationalityGerman
Known forFriedreich's ataxia
Scientific career
FieldsNeurology

Biography

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In the early part of his career he studied and practiced medicine at the University of Würzburg under the tutelage of noted men such as physiologist Albert von Kölliker and pathologist Rudolf Virchow. He later became a professor of pathological anatomy at Würzburg, then in 1858 was appointed a professor of pathology and therapy at the University of Heidelberg, where he remained for the rest of his career. Some of his better known students and assistants included Adolf Kussmaul, Wilhelm Heinrich Erb and Friedrich Schultze.

Friedreich was involved in the establishment of pathological correlations, notably in research of muscular dystrophy, spinal ataxia and brain tumors. He is remembered today for "Friedreich's ataxia", which he identified in 1863. It is a degenerative disease with sclerosis of the spinal cord that affects a person's speech, balance and coordination.

Associated eponyms

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Selected publications

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  • Beiträge zur Lehre von den Geschwülsten innerhalb der Schädelhöhle. Habilitation thesis, 1853.
  • Ein neuer Fall von Leukämie. In Virchow's Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medicin, Berlin, 1857, 12: 37-58. (First description of acute leukaemia).
  • Die Krankheiten der Nase, des Kehlkopfes, der Trachea, der Schild- und Thymusdrüse. In Virchow’s Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. 1858. (Diseases of the nose, larynx, trachea, the thyroid and thymus).
  • Ein Beitrag zur Pathologie der Trichinenkrankheit beim Menschen. In Virchow's Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medicin, Berlin, 1862, 25: 399-413. (A contribution to the pathology of trichinosis in humans).
  • Die Krankheiten des Herzens. In Virchow’s Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. Erlangen, 1854, 5, 1 Abt, 385-530. 2nd edition, Erlangen, F. Enke, 1867. (Diseases of the heart).
  • Ueber degenerative Atrophie der spinalen Hinterstränge In Virchow's Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medicin, Berlin, (A) 26: 391, 433; 1863. (On degenerative atrophy of the spinal dorsal columns).
  • Ueber Ataxie mit besonderer berücksichtigung der hereditären Formen. In Virchow's Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie und für klinische Medicin, Berlin, 1863. (On ataxia with special reference to hereditary forms).
  • Die Heidelberger Baracken für Krigesepidemien während des Feldzuges 1870 und 1871, Heidelberg, 1871.
  • Ueber progressive Muskelatrophie, über wahre und falsche Muskelatrophie, Berlin, 1873.
  • Der acute Milztumor und seine Beziehungen zu den acuten Infektionskrankheiten. In Volkmann’s Sammlung klinischer Vorträge, Leipzig, 1874.
  • Paramyoklonus multiplex. In Virchow's Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie, und für klinische Medicin, Berlin, 1881, 86: 421-430. (First description of paramyoclonus multiplex, Friedreich’s disease).

See also

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References

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