Rudolf Virchow

Rudolf Virchow 

Rudolf Virchow Contributions

  Post Mortem Techniques

     Virchow Method By Rudolf Virchow 

Virchow was the first to develop a systematic method of autopsy, based on his knowledge of cellular pathology. The modern autopsy still constitutes his techniques.

In 1845, Virchow = independently observed abnormal increases in white blood cells in some patients. 

His first significant autopsy was on a 50-year-old woman in 1845. He found an unusual number of white blood cells, and gave a detailed description in 1847 and named the condition as leukämie

From his experience of post-mortem examinations of cadavers, he published his method in a small book in 1876. His book was the first to describe the techniques of autopsy specifically to examine abnormalities in organs, and retain important tissues for further examination and demonstration. Unlike any other earlier practitioner, he practiced complete surgery of all body parts with body organs dissected one by one. This has become the standard method.

                                                              Rudolf Virchow 

Rudolf Virchow made significant contributions to understanding bilirubin in 1847. He first described the similar structure of bilirubin and blood pigments, suggesting a connection between bilirubin and blood, according to the Journal of Hepatology.

 He isolated bilirubin crystals from hematomas and theorized that bilirubin was derived from blood, which was later confirmed by research linking it to the breakdown of heme

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