Friedrich Esmarch (on the 200th anniversary of his birth)

Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch was one of the most eminent surgeons of the German school of the nineteenth century. Esmarch's tourniquet is used daily around the world to stop bleeding, Esmarch's bandage scissors for cutting large bandages, Esmarch's transport splint, Esmarch's circle irriga, Esmarch's knife, etc. However, these inventions are only a few of the many significant innovations of this outstanding surgeon, scientist, organizer and teacher. Esmarch is rightfully considered one of the founders of military field surgery and disaster medicine, he also owns the idea of exsanguination of a limb during operations, the introduction into anesthesiology practice of the method of extending the lower jaw to combat asphyxia (“Esmarch’s technique”), as well as the creation of a prototype anesthesia mask and design of the chloroform anesthesia device. He was the first to introduce the principle of medical triage of the wounded, described intracranial epidermoid tumors, was a pioneer in the use of cryotherapy and popularized the rules of asepsis and antisepsis in military field surgery. Over 40 years of practice, Esmarch has conducted more than 20000 major operations. In addition to his surgical abilities, he was recognized as an unusually astute diagnostician. Thanks to Esmarch's initiative, a network of "Samaritan Courses" was organized in Germany to train civilians in first aid. Its coat of arms, presented in 1887 by Emperor Wilhelm I, depicted the coat of arms of the Esmarch family, the Samaritan cross and a bloodless hand with Esmarch's bandage. A truly appropriate set of heraldic symbols for such an outstanding person who has done so much for surgery in general, and for the humane and effective treatment of the wounded in particular.

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