[Karl E. Hammerschmidt. Humanist, natural scientist and pioneer in anesthesia].

Karl Eduard Hammerschmidt was born in Vienna in 1801. There are indications that after studying law he passed on to studies in medicine and surgery in Vienna, though it has to be said there is no trace of his attaining any qualification. After this he worked in various scientific sectors and in recognition of his achievements he was accepted as a member of the Kaiser Leopold Academy of Researchers in Natural Sciences in Bonn.