Cancer or syphilis laryngis, politics or diagnostic failure – problems of Emperor Frederick’s III disease
Journal Title: Otolaryngologia Polska - Year 2008, Vol 62, Issue 6
Abstract
The case history of the German emperor Frederick III, who died of laryngeal cancer in 1888, is briefl y reported. In spite of fact, that the German laryngologists the patient’s pathologic changes diagnosed as laryngeal cancer in early stage, the ultimate diagnosis was made too late for surgery to have any effect. This delay was due to the differences in opinions between the attending laryngologists; particularly between that of the English prominent laryngologist Morell Mackenzie and the Germans, prof. Gerhardt and prof. Bergmann. The roles of the British Queen Victoria as well as her daughter, the wife of Prince Frederick, the princess Victoria, in decisions about the treatment of the disease, are discussed. The behavior and the personality of Sir Morell Mackenzie played also a very important role in the course of the disease. Some medical facts and symptoms render it probable that syphilis was the underlying reason for the development of cancer. Crown Prince Frederick was a pipe smoker for at least 30 years before he died at the age of 57 years, so it may be possible, that the Emperor’s laryngeal cancer was induced by tobacco. There are some suggestions, that the premature death of the King of Prussia and German Emperor Frederick III could be a critical turning point in European’s history.<br/><br/>
Authors and Affiliations
Stanisław Betlejewski, Andrzej Betlejewski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP345975
- DOI -
- Views 76
- Downloads 0
The case of malignant melanoma of the external ear with hidden location
Melanoma is one of the most malignant neoplasm. Mostly it is located in skin but also can appear in every place where melanocytes are present. Approximately 25% of all of these tumours is located in head and neck region...
Zastosowanie laserów w leczeniu chorób krtani
In otolaryngology, C02 laser is the first and most commonly applied device. Such lasers as Ny:YAG generating visible light having wavelength 532 nm referred to as KTP laser due to the Name of the crystal where infrared l...
Revision surgery in otosclerosis
The authors present 68 cases of revision stapes surgery in otosclerosis. This review analyzed intraoperative findings and postrevision hearing results. According to our observations, the most common causes of failure aft...
Ocena przydatności klinicznej cyfrowego korektora mowy u pacjentów jąkających się
Streszczenie dost&#281;pne w j&#281;zyku angielskim!
Inverted papilloma of the nose and paranasal sinuses in endoscopic surgery of the Otolaryngology Clinical Division in 4-th Clinical Military Hospital in Wrocław between years 2006–2008
The aim of presented work is analysis of the inverted papilloma cases treated by endoscopic surgery between years 2006 and 2008. Within this period there were 180 surgeries, out of which 11 patients were diagnosed with p...