Gustav Gärtner

Gustav Gärtner (September 28, 1855 - November 4, 1937) was an Austrian pathologist who was born in Pardubice, Bohemia. In 1879 he earned his doctorate at the University of Vienna. Afterwards, he remained in Vienna as an assistant to Salomon Stricker (1834-1898), later as a professor. In 1918 he became a "full professor" at the University of Vienna.

Gärtner is remembered for his work in experimental pathology, including the study of kidney functions, experiments concerning electrical skin resistance and his work with innervation of cerebral vessels. He also assisted Karl Koller (1857-1944) with experiments concerning the use of cocaine as an anaesthetic in eye surgery.

Gärtner is credited with the creation of numerous medical devices and apparati, the best-known invention being a tonometer which contained an inflatable finger cuff for measurement of blood pressure. He also did extensive work in the study of nutrition, mainly in the field of dietetics. He developed the eryostat, an electric machine to support adipositas therapy. The principles of the Gaertner diet were propagated in his book Diätetische Entfettungskuren.

Written Works

 * Ueber die therapeutische Verwendung der Muskelarbeit und einen neuen Apparat zu ihrer Dosirung, Wien, Im Selbstverlag des Verfassers, 1887. Offprint from Allgemeine Wiener medizinische Zeitung, 1887.
 * Über den Hirnkreislauf. Vorläufige Mitteilung. 1887. By Julius Wagner-Jauregg (1857-1940) and Gustav Gärtner
 * Ueber den elektrischen Widerstand des menschlichen Körpers gegenüber Inductions-strömen, Wien, A. Hölder, 1889. 529 pages.
 * Ueber einen neuen Blutdruckmesser (Tonometer). Vortrag, gehalten am 16. Juni 1899 in der k.k. Gesellschaft der Aerzte in Wien, von Gustav Gartner. Wien, M. Perles, 1899. Offprint from Wiener Medicinische Wochenschrift, 1899, 49, No. 30.
 * Ueber einen neuen Apparat zur Bestimmung des Hämoglobingehaltes im Blute, München, J. F. Lehmann, 1901. 14 pages. Offprint from Münchener medicinische Wochenschrift, 1901, No. 50.
 * Diätetische Entfettungskuren. Leipzig 1913. Translated into English.