Franz Schuh (physician)

Franz Schuh (October 17, 1804 - December 22, 1865) was an Austrian pathologist and surgeon who was a native of Scheibbs. He practiced medicine in Vienna, where he was a colleague of Josef Skoda (1805-1881), and an instructor to dermapathologist Carl Heitzmann (1836–1896). In 1842 Schuh became head of the second surgical clinic at the University of Vienna.

Franz Schuh was a medical pioneer who advanced scientific surgical practices in Vienna. He is remembered for his research in respiratory physiology and his work in experimental surgery. In 1840 he is credited with performing the first successful pericardiocentesis (pericardiac aspiration), and in January, 1847 he was the first Austrian physician to use ether as an anesthetic on a human patient.

Selected writings

 * Pathologie und Therapie der Pseudoplasmen (Pathology and therapy of the "pseudo plasmas"), 1854
 * Abhandlungen auf dem Gebiet der Chirurgie und Operationslehre, (Articles of surgery and operative lessons), 1867.