August Gottlieb Richter

Who was August Gottlieb Richter?

August Gottlieb Richter was a German surgeon, born in Zörbig, Saxony.

He received his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in 1764, and spent most of his subsequent career in Göttingen as a professor and surgeon. In 1771 he attained the position of professor ordinarius.

Among his better known writings was a seven volume work on the treatment of wounds, called Anfangsgründe der Wundarzneikunst. From 1771 until 1797, he was editor of the surgical journal, Chirugische Bibliothek. Richter did extensive research in the field of ophthalmology, publishing in 1773, an influential treatise on cataract extraction titled Abhandlung von der Ausziehung des grauen Stars.

The eponymous "Richter's hernia" was first described by him. This disorder is a strangulated hernia in which only part of the circumference of the bowel wall is affected. With this type of hernia there is an absence of intestinal blockage.

In 1774, Richter was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.