Ferdinand August Maria Franz von Ritgen

Who was Ferdinand August Maria Franz von Ritgen?

Ferdinand August Maria Franz von Ritgen was a German obstetrician born in the Westphalian village of Wulfen. He is remembered for instruction in the field of midwifery.

He studied at Giessen and later worked as district medical officer at Stadtberge. In 1814 he attained the chair of surgery and obstetrics at the University of Giessen. Subsequently he founded a school for midwives. In 1825/26 and 1837/38 he served as university rector.

Ritgen was editor of the journal Gemeinsame deutsche Zeitschrift für Geburtskunde. His name is associated with the so-called "Ritgen's maneuver", an obstetrical technique defined as delivery of a child's head by pressure on the perineum while controlling the speed of delivery by pressure with the other hand on the head.

Ritgen was also interested in natural sciences, publishing works in the fields of botany, geology, zoology and even astronomy.

He was the father of architect Hugo von Ritgen.