13.08.2019ISEMPH Exhibition

43, MUSEUM OF WAX MOULAGES OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ZURICH

Wax moulage Nr. 43 shows the hand of Fritz F. with a spreading infection of cow pox. The cow pox virus does not infect humans unless it is applied to a wound, where it usually causes an isolated pustule. The local infection can be spread over the skin by scratching. In patients suffering from eczema damaging the skin barrier or having an immunosuppression, the disease can also spread over the body. 

Fritz F. might have been intentionally infected receiving a vaccination. But because the patient was not a child, and therefore less likely to receive vaccinations, he could also have been a farmer who was infected directly by a diseased cow during milking. Unfortunately, we are not able to learn more about the patient’s history, because the medical files of the patients illustrated with moulages have been discarded many years ago.

297, MUSEUM OF WAX MOULAGES OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ZURICH

In 1921 there was a small epidemic of small pox in Zurich. Lotte Volger was asked to make five moulages of diseased patients, two of them illustrating the disease on the face. Frieda W. was one of these patients.

When the Dermatology Clinic was founded in 1916, the moulageuse Lotte Volger was asked to come from Berlin to the Kantonsspital Zurich in order to make moulages as teaching aids for the medical students and for documentation of medical research. She had the reputation of being one of the best manufacturers of moulages at this time.

Lotte Volger had to take a negative form with plaster, using small tubes so the patients was able to breath while the plaster was hardening (about 15 minutes). Of course, Frieda W. had her eyes closed. After having poured out the raw moulage with a mixture of bees’ wax, raisin and calcium carbonate, the details like the opened eyes and the nose and mouth had to be shaped. Then the moulage was varnished next to the patient with only four colors (red, blue, brown and yellow). Finally, glass eyes, hair and “pus” (with the help of lacquer) were added and the moulage was mounted on the black wooden board.

The moulage illustrates the typical rash, often healing with scars, but also the general illness with inflammation of the conjunctivae, runny nose and general malaise.

298, MUSEUM OF WAX MOULAGES OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ZURICH

401-402, MUSEUM OF WAX MOULAGES OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL ZURICH

Ten days after the infection with the highly contagious virus the disease starts with malaise, high fever, conjunctivitis and swollen lymph nodes. After two days, white spots appear in the mouth (Koplik-spots) and another two days later, the typical rash begins on the head (retroauricular) and neck, spreading over the torso to the limbs. Complications like bronchopneumonia or otitis media occur in 10 – 15% of the infection (in industrialized countries) and in 1 of 1000 an encephalitis with disabling or fatal outcome can develop.

Since 1963 there is an active live vaccine against measles available for children administered at the end of their first year of life with boosters at three and six years of age.

4590, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

The channel along the blade axis up to the tip is intended for receiving the liquid lymph. The tip of the blade is discoloured by repeated sterilisation in the flame (Disinfection by flame became popular in the late 19th century).

This type of vaccination instrument was in use for a long time; Vaccination lancet to be folded up with shells made of tortoiseshell, horn or hard rubber.

Preferred instrument of Henri Marie Husson (1772 - 1853) around 1820, probably invented by him. Became very popular in continental Europe.

WALTER CARL (SURGICAL INSTRUMENT MAKER FROM BASEL)

1842: First reference to a surgical instrument maker Walter in Basel.

1921/22: Last indication of the company's activity so far.

Compare engraving (OBJECT PHOTO 6)

JOHANN JAKOB WALTER-BASLER (1780 - 1856)

• Born in Basel, but initially still a citizen of Illkirch near Strasbourg
• Naturalized in Basel 1816
• Occupation: Handelscommis (1819, 1836)

CARL WALTER (-KELLER) (1813 - 1872 ?)

• Born 1813 as son of Johann Jakob Walter-Basler
• 1835 confirmation and apprenticeship certificate from Heidelberg
• 1844 marriage
• 1862 clearly proven
• Business handover 1872

CARL EDUARD WALTER-BIONDETTI (1848 - 1921)

• Son of CARL WALTER (-KELLER)
• 1870-1872 Education in Paris and Berlin
• Took over his father's business in Basel in 1872
• Advertised at the end of 1872 as «C. Walter, son»
• 1874 for the first time as C. Walter-Biondetti. However, this name can only be found as an imprint on cases etc. The instruments were usually hallmarked with a lentil-shaped mark «C.Walter à Bâle»

11431, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

Particularly advantageous with this inoculation knife is the easy cleaning, disinfection and handling.

In the course of the mass vaccinations, the introduction of the animal lymph and the newly gained knowledge about antisepsis, more solid and easier to handle one-piece vaccination instruments were developed. The long-established foldable vaccination lancets with shells made of tortoiseshell, horn or hard rubber were replaced. The vaccination knife according to Dr. med. Georg Chalybäus is a good example of this development.

The switch to calf lymph (around 1880) not only increased the production of vaccine, it also reduced the risk of transmitting human diseases by the vaccine itself. As animal lymph proved less potent than human one, more of it had to be applied on more and longer cuts in the skin. New instruments were developed like this one presented by Dr. Theodor Chalybäus in 1884 in the article 

«Die Impfungen mit animaler Lymphe in der städtischen Impfanstalt zu Dresden im Jahre 1883 (Schluss aus No. 14.). Deutsche medicinische Wochenschrift vom 10. April 1884, page 237-240»

DR. MED. GEORG THEODOR CHALYBÄUS/CHALYBAEUS (1838 - 1919) 

• 29.04.1838 Dresden - 01.01.1919 Dresden
• From 1876 board member of the state vaccination institution/lymphan institution Dresden
• Founder and director of the medical polyclinic of the Albertverein in Dresden 1865 - 1875
• Municipal vaccinator since 1875
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Institute for Vaccination since 1885
• Member of the Medical Association of the Dresden administrative district 1899 - 1906
• Extraordinary member of the Royal State Medical College 1896 - 1906
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Saxon Medical Invalidity Care Fund and the Widow and Orphan Fund since 1893

SOURCES ABOUT CHALYBÄUS

• Chalybäus Theodor: Die Impfungen mit animaler Lymphe in der städtischen Impfanstalt zu Dresden im Jahre 1883 (Schluss aus No. 14.). Deutsche medicinische Wochenschrift vom 10. April 1884, page 237-240
• Chalybäus Theodor: Die staatliche Lymphanstalt und die Gewinnung tierischer Schutzpockenlymphe in Dresden. Für die Internationale Hygiene-Ausstellung Dresden 1911 im Auftrage des Königlichen Ministeriums des Innern. Mit 19 Abbildungen, Verlag von Cerhard Kühtman, Dresden 1911
  • Volger Bruno (Publisher): Sachsens Gelehrte, Künstler und Schriftsteller in Wort und Bild, nebst einem Anhang Nichtsachsen, Gohlis Bruno Volger Verlagsbuchhandlung, Leipzig 1908, page 19

14252, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

The tear-spring construction of the tip is designed to prevent the inoculation incision from penetrating into the subcutis. However, this construction makes cleaning the knife more difficult.

It was invented by the physician Eduard Wilhelm Güntz (1800-1880). As then secretary of the Medicinische Gesellschaft zu Leipzig, he made it public for the first time under the name «Impffeder» at the society's meeting on 24 June 1834.

A few weeks later, a short section about the vaccination pen appeared in «Froriep, Ludwig Friedrich: Notizen aus dem Gebiete der Natur-und Heilkunde, gesammelt und mitgetheilt von Ludwig Friedrich v. Froriep. Ein und vierzigster Band, zwei und zwanzig Stücke (Nro. .881 bis 902), Landes-Industrie-Comptoirs, Weimar 1834, page 176», where the Leipzig instrument maker Moritz Hornn was mentioned as the manufacturer and source of supply.

In 1835 the instrument was described in detail in an article in the «Jahrbüchern der in- und ausländischen gesammten Medicin, page 255» under the name «Impffeder des Dr. Güntz, adj. Stadtphysikus zu Leipzig»:

«The vaccination pen resembles in the form a star knife and consists of a drawing pen with ebony handle, whose beaks wipe a fine lancet blade, which moves around the axis of the usual horizontal screw and is loosened by means of a second, in the proximity of the handle attached, vertical screw in any degree. The blade runs out at the cutting side into a so-called ripper. Its back cuts only at the upper convex ground end in the length of a line.».

The earliest known illustration of the «Impffeder» comes from an encyclopedia of 1836 directed at the general public.

On September 20, 1843, Güntz personally presented the device at the 21st meeting of German natural scientists and physicians in Graz following a lecture on a different topic, followed by a positive report by Dr. Fröhlich.

In 1852 there was an other illustration in the book «Cessner, C. J.:  Handbuch der chirurgischen Instrumenten- und Verbandlehre, L. W. Seidel, Wien 1852, page 90, Fig. 106»

In the weekly «Berliner klinische Wochenschrift, No. 28, 13. Juli 1874» Dr. P. Loewenhardt wrote the following words about the vaccination pen according to Dr. Güntz:

«The Günz'sche vaccination pen invented 1823 [...] can be obtained from the surgical instruments factory of Oswald Hornn, Leipzig, Universitäts- and Schillerstrassen-Ecke. It is strongly recommended that you order the small change I made to the spring and knife and also a spare knife (to avoid embarrassment).»

It was not invented in 1823, as Loewenhardt wrote, but in 1834. 1823 is the founding year of the original manufacturer Moritz Hornn, whose business passed to Oswald Hornn in 1848. Since then the double name Güntz-Löwenhardt has sometimes been used.

In the book «Pfeiffer Ludwig: Die Vaccination, ihre experimentellen und erfahrungsgemässen Grundlagen und ihre Technik, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der animalen Vaccination. Verlag der H. Laupp'schen Buchhandlung, Tübingen 1884, pages 97 - 98, Fig. 6»Pfeiffer mentioned in addition to Güntz and Loewenhardt a Meinhardt:

«Meinhardt and Güntze-Löwenhardt have installed special devices to prevent the knife from penetrating deeper than the epidermis [...]».

EDUARD WILHELM GÜNTZ (1800 - 1880)

• 01.04.1800 Wurzen - 03.03.1880 Thonberg
• Founded the Irren-, Heil- und Pflegeanstalt (Insane asylum, sanitarium and care institution) Thonberg in Leipzig in 1836, which he also managed himself until 1863

SOURCES ABOUT GÜNTZ

• Güntz Eduard Wilhlem: Die Irren-Heil- und Pflege-Anstalt Thonberg im ersten Vierteljahrhundert ihrer Wirksamkeit, Verlag in Commission bei Philipp Reclam jun., Leipzig 1861

17094, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

Vaccination certificate for protective smallpox from the canton of Zurich. Preprinted form with handwritten entries in ink:

«Impfzeugnis. Der Unterzeichnete bescheinigt hiermit, dass er Knecht Frida in Hinwil 5 Jahr alt, unter dem 2 Sept 1887 mit den Schutzblattern geimpft habe und der Erfolg dieser Impfung ächt gewesen sei. Wetzikon den 9 Sept 1887 Dr. Walder

Anmerkung. Dieses Impfzeugnis muss bei Aufnahme des Kindes in die Schule vorgewiesen werden.» 

(Vaccination certificate. The undersigned hereby certifies that he had vaccinated Knecht Frida in Hinwil 5 years old, under 2 Sept 1887 with the protective leaves and that the success of this vaccination had been outlawed. Wetzikon the 9 Sept 1887 Dr. Walder

Note. This vaccination certificate must be presented when the child is admitted to school.).

As the note on the certificate states, the vaccination certificate had to be presented for admission to school.  This «compulsory vaccination» was already then fought by opponents of vaccination, as the «Initiativebegehren betr. die Aufhebung des kantonalen Impfzwangs» from 20.11.1882 shows.

In Switzerland, in 1882, the compulsory vaccination under the Epidemic Law was rejected by almost 80% of voters in the referendum. In 1883, the abolition of compulsory vaccination was enforced in various German-speaking Swiss cantons. The Epidemiengesetz (Epidemics Law) of 1886 (revised in 1970, total revision in 2013) continued to place the implementation of vaccination campaigns and the introduction of compulsory vaccination under the control of the cantons, the majority of which did not impose compulsory vaccination.

The historian Matthias Steinmann describes in his essay «Impf-Alltag im 19. Jahrhundert. Das Verhältnis zwischen Ärzten und Bevölkerung vor dem Hintergrund der Pockenschutzimpfung im Kanton Luzern» that doctors were also negative about the vaccination business. It was labour-intensive and travel-intensive to go to the remote villages as a vaccinator.

14260, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

Ring-shaped piece of fabric, coated on one side. Inside a calotte of transparent material (celluloid).

Used to protect the pustules that develop after smallpox vaccination (prevents removal by scratching or kicking), which should serve as a source of new vaccine lymph.

14264, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

Vaccination lancet with set-off, fine tip (blued from sterilisation in an open flame) and round handle with thread made of hard rubber. It can be screwed into a glass tube with brown hard rubber armouring with the tip facing the inside as a lid.

The bottom of the tube consists of two glass plates, from which the outer one can be unscrewed.

A large number of «Breton'sche Röhrchen» (Breton tubes for the preservation of the protective smallpox lymph) could be transported in the glass container, the contents of which were blown out onto the aforementioned glass plate if required.

SAMUEL GOLDSCHMIDT (Also known as Siegmund Goldschmidt)

• Born 1813, dead 1883
• 1834 Foundation of the business
• Evidence found until 1883, possibly even younger
• He was royal court mechanic and bandagist in Berlin
• 1862 Award in London for «vortrefflich gefertigte Bruchbänder und Wirbelsäulenhalter» (excellently manufactured hernia bands and spine holders)

SOURCES ABOUT GOLDSCHMIDT

• Goldschmidt Samuel (Publisher): Die chirurgische Mechanik in ihrer Anwendung auf orthopädische Maschinen und künstliche Glieder: Abbildung und Beschreibung der gebräuchlichsten und zweckmässigsten Maschinen gegen die verschiedenen Deformitäten des Rückgrats und der Extremitäten, sowie der bewährtesten Künstlichen Glieder und einiger neuen chirurgischen Instrumente und Apparate, August Hirschwald, Berlin 1865
• Goldschmidt Samuel: Systematische Zusammenstellung der Instrumente und Apparate für Medicin, Chirurgie, Geuirtskunde, Kriegsheilkunde, Hospitaldienst und Krankenpflege mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Bandagen für Unterleibsbrüche und Orthopädie. Mit Abbildungen und Beschreibungen, Eigenverlag, Berlin 1874

14267, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

4 vaccination lancets with smallpox vaccine "Lancy Vaxina" for 2 - 3 vaccinations.

With tubular handle and aluminium cap.

There's a label on the handle (one label per vaccination lancet).

On the label 1 and 2 the following is written:

«6 MÉDAILLES D’OR», «MARQUE DÉPOSÉE», «INSTITUT VACCINAL SUISSE & BACTÉRIO-THERAPIEQUE BERNE», «FONDÉ EN 1883», «LANCY-VAXINA», «1 TUBE», «POUR 2-3 VACCINATIONS», «FOURNISSEUR DE L’ÉTAT», «VÉRITABLE VACCIN DE GÉNISSE», «No 2015».

(6 gold medals, registered trademark, Institut Vaccinal Suisse & Bactério-therapieque Berne, founded 1883, Lancy-Vaxina, 1 small tube, for 2 to 3 vaccinations, Government supplier, real heifer vaccine, No 2015).

On the label 3 the following is written:

«6 MÉDAILLES D’OR», «MARQUE DÉPOSÉE», «INSTITUT VACCINAL SUISSE & BACTÉRIO-THERAPIEQUE BERNE», «FONDÉ EN 1883», «LANCY-VAXINA», «1 TUBE», «POUR 2-3 VACCINATIONS», «FOURNISSEUR DE L’ÉTAT», «VÉRITABLE VACCIN DE GÉNISSE», «No 2261»

(6 gold medals, registered trademark, Institut Vaccinal Suisse & Bactério-therapieque Berne, founded 1883, Lancy-Vaxina, 1 small tube, for 2 to 3 vaccinations, Government supplier, real heifer vaccine, No 2261).

On the label 4 the following is written:

«7 MÉDAILLES D’OR», «MARQUE DÉPOSÉE», «INSTITUT VACCINAL SUISSE & SÉRO-THERAPIEQUE BERNE», «FONDÉ [1883]», «LANCY-VAXINA», «1 T[UBE]», «POUR [2-3] VACCINA[TIONS]», «FOURNISSEUR DE L’ÉTAT», «VÉRITABLE VACCIN DE GÉNISSE», «No 4[…]».

(7 gold medals, registered trademark, Institut Vaccinal Suisse & Séro-therapieque Berne, founded 1883, Lancy-Vaxina, 1 small tube, for 2 to 3 vaccinations, Government supplier, real heifer vaccine, No 4...).

On the advertising postcard shown above the vaccination lancet is illustrated. Below in the text the depots are listed, in which the vaccination lancets are stored and ready for the order stand. It is also interesting to mention that the Lancy-Vaxina implant chain has a 99-100% success rate for a first vaccination and a 70-80% success rate for a second vaccination.

One vaccination lancet could be used for 2 to 3 vaccinations as it is written on the label.

The great advantage of this vaccination lancet was that the vaccine was already integrated in a glass tube ready for use. The transport as well as the application was made much easier.

The serum is merchandised from Bern under the name Lancy-Vaxina.

INSTITUT VACCINAL SUISSE (FOUNDED 1883)

• The company was known for the production of smallpox vaccine and other vaccines
• Founded 1883 in Lancy (Geneva, Switzerland)
• In 1898 the company merged with «Häfliger, Vogt & Cie. in Bern» to form the new public limited company «Schweizerisches Serum- & Impfinstitut Bern (Berna)»
• In 2001 the company was renamed «Berna Biotech AG»
• In 2006 the company was taken over by the Durch biotechnology company «Crucell»

6044, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

951, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

The vaccination lancet consists of two parts, which are held together by means of a groove. This allows the implant chain to be folded together.

The first part with the double-edged, lance-shaped knife is elongated in the middle and ribbed in a circular shape.

The second part with the rounded end is ribbed at the sides and short ribbed in the middle above the round groove opening.

There are two engravings under the blade:

•  «FÉLIX & FLÜCK LAUSANNE»
• «BREVET [Symbol Swiss cross] 21504»

The patent specification with the number «Brevet 21504» was registered by the Federal Office of Intellectual Property on February 2, 1901.

The elevations (ribs) on both parts of the implant chain lead to improved stabilization during application.

The foldable blade made it possible to transport and store the vaccination lancet safely.

The blade is discoloured from repeated sterilisation in the flame.

FÉLIX & FLÜCK, INSTITUT VACCINOGÈNE SUISSE, LAUSANNE

• Founded in Lausanne on 1 March 1898 by Emanuel/Emile Félix and Jules Flück (Objective: production of smallpox vaccine)
• In 1902 the installations were enlarged and modernized
• In 1903, Félix and Flück published the book «Petit manuel pratique de la vaccination, Impr. J. Couchoud, Rue Mauborget, Lausanne 1903» in which among others the vaccination lancet Félix & Flück Lausanne, Brevet 21504 is also shown (Compare photo above)
• 1933 the company is taken over (but remains represented as a brand at least until the 1970s)

SOURCES ABOUT FÉLIX & FLÜCK

• Félix Emile / Flück Jules: La vaccine animale : sa culture et sa préparation à l'Institut vaccinogène suisse de Lausanne, Impr. Couchoud, Lausanne 1898
• Félix Emile / Flück Jules: Petit manuel pratique de la vaccination, Impr. J. Couchoud, Lausanne 1903

7023, MEDICAL COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITY ZURICH, INSTITUTE OF EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE

Long metal box with rounded corners and two lids. The case itself has three round holes at the bottom; in it there is an insert with a central channel (for lancet handle) and six rectangular holes at the top and at the bottom (for attachments for the lancets including insertable tips). In one row between the holes there is a letter of the word «STERIL» (Sterile) for the unused attachments.

Six screw-on attachments for the lancet with insertable tips.

1 long, round lancet handle with integrated snap mechanism: at the end of the handle there is a rotating knob on the thread, which can be pulled up until the tip of the lancet has disappeared and then snaps into place; when the spring is pressed, the tip jumps out.

On the middle of the lid is the Aesculapian logo (Aesculapian snake around a pole, crown). Above it is written «AESCULAP»:

On the bottom right of the lid is written «ARNOLD BOTT».

It is an aseptic (germ-free) vaccination set, which consists completely of metal. The metal case can, for example, be filled with alcohol, then it is sealed airtight and the components of the vaccination kit inside are sterilized.

The snap mechanism has a psychological advantage when it comes to anxious patients. The tip of the lancet is not visible when the lancet handle is placed on the skin and it only jumps out when the spring is pressed. In other words, patients (especially children) do not see the «dangerous and pointed» blade.

AESCULAP AG

• Founded 1867
• 1867: Gottfried Jetter (1838 - 1903), the founder of the company, had a look around the medical technology centres and, after his return to Tuttlingen, started to manufacture surgical instruments in his workshop
• 1874: The young company «Gottfried Jetter Fabrik chirurgischer Instrumente» publishes a first price list with 172 articles
• 1878: Jetter builds a two-storey factory building, 120 employees manufacture the instruments in demand, a steam engine with 6 HP supplies the energy
• 1887: Jetter's brother-in-law Wilhelm and Karl Christian Scheerer (1857 - 1938) become partners. The company is now called «Jetter & Scheerer»
• 1889: The first branch is opened in Berlin, followed by others in New York (1893) and London (1895)
• 1889: The snake stick with crown becomes a trademark. It and the brand name AESCULAP  became symbols for the quality products of the company
• 1895: The company is transformed into the «Aktiengesellschaft für Feinmechanik vormals Jetter & Scheerer»
• 1896/97: Together with Richard Kny the company «Kny-Scheerer Company» is founded in New York to establish a better footing in America and became principal sellers. Kny-Scheerer were compelled by contract to purchase all surgical equipment from Jetter and Scheerer
• 1914 - 1918: During the First World War the company also produced war material
• 1930 - 1932: After an interim high in the 1920s with an export ratio of 73 %, the markets collapsed in the global economic crisis. The number of employees has to be reduced from just under 1'800 to 1'100 and the weekly working time from 48 to 36 hours
• 1932: The company's patriarch, Karl Christian Scheerer, resigns, he has shaped the company and made it big, his sons Fritz and Hans Scheerer take over the management
• 1939 - 1945: The company becomes an armaments factory and produces war material in addition to the traditional products
• 1967: With Hans Scheerer, the last member of the founding families leaves the management board
• 1973: In response to cheap products from Pakistan, Aesculap opens a production facility in Georgetown, Malaysia, where Aesculap instruments are manufactured in the well-known Tuttlingen quality
• 1976: Braun Melsungen AG becomes majority shareholder
• 1969: Renamed «AESCULAP-Werke Aktiengesellschaft formerly Jetter & Scheerer»
• 1977: When the young Michael Ungethüm (Born 1943) joins the company, the door to science is opened. The company significantly increases its research and development activities and thus its investments
• 1982: Aesculap enters minimally invasive surgery with the development of arthroscopy instruments. The company develops and produces endoprostheses in cooperation with leading medical experts in various fields of trauma surgery and orthopaedics
• 1988: «Aesculap AG» the company is now officially called. In England the renowned instrument manufacturers W. Skidmore and Downs Surgical are bought
• 1991: Aesculap acquires the majority in the Polish company CHIFA in Nowy Tomyśl, manufacturer of surgical instruments and founds Aesculap Suhl GmbH after the acquisition of Medizintechnik Suhl GmbH, today manufacturer and supplier of animal clippers. Aesculap offers a complete range for minimally invasive surgery
• 1995: Opening of the Aesculapium. With this science and communication centre, the company breaks new ground. The dialogue with the medical personnel gains a high value. Further Aesculap Academies will follow in Berlin (2005), Bochum (2013) and Suzhou (2016)
• 2005: Aesculap opens a factory near Shanghai, where classical instruments are produced
• 2009: Michael Ungethüm retires, Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel becomes successor
• 2017: B. Braun GmbH, Melsungen celebrates 150th anniversary of Aesculap

SOURCES ABOUT AESCULAP

• 150 years of Aesculap products, anniversary celebration by B. Braun, 2017
• Chirurgie Museum Asklepios
• The Kny-Scheerer Company: Illustrated and descriptive catalogue of Roentgen X-ray apparatus and accessories : apparatus for the generation and application of high frequency currents. Apparatus for the therapeutic application of light energy, 3rd Edition New York 1905
• The Kny-Scheerer Company: Section Q. Illustrative and descriptive catalogue of aseptic surgical supplies, New York 1908
• The Kny-Scheerer Company: Illustrations of surgical instruments of superior quality, 20th Edition, New York 1915

ARNOLD BOTT, ZURICH

• Founded 1934
• Public limited company since 1971/73 ?
• Still active, but part of the Polymed Medical Center Group since 1995

SOURCES ABOUT BOTT

• Company webpage