The Pre-Anschluss Vienna School of Medicine – The surgeons: Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865), Theodor Billroth (1829–1894) and Robert Bárány (1876–1936)

A brief history of the Vienna School of Medicine is sketched out from its founding in the mid-18th century by Gerard van Swieten until the Anschluss in March 1938. The pioneering work of Ignaz Semmelweis on the causes and the prevention of puerperal fever is discussed. This is followed by ground-breaking innovations, particularly in abdominal surgery, by Theodor Billroth and by Robert Bárány’s Nobel Prize winning work inter alia on defining the pathology and physiology of the human vestibular apparatus. The lives and work of these three outstanding medical practitioners are described, together with their successes and failures. Only Billroth’s achievements were appreciated in Vienna during their lifetimes. Semmelweis’ work was belittled during his lifetime and he died obscurely in a mental institution. Bárány had to immigrate to Sweden to achieve recognition.