Karl Spiro

Karl Spiro (* June 24, 1867 in Berlin, † March 21, 1932 in Wimmenau in Strasbourg ) was a German biochemist and physical chemist.

Karl Spiro studied chemistry in Berlin, Greifswald and Würzburg, where in 1889 the Dr. phil. received his doctorate. Subsequently he devoted himself to the study of medicine in Breslau, Berlin, Strasbourg and Leipzig, where he earned a doctorate in med 1893. After a short time in the industry and as an assistant to Oswald Schmiedeberg, he worked for almost 25 years with Franz Hofmeister together in Strasbourg. After following the First World War, Alsace was French, he moved to Basel in 1919, where he was a successor of Gustav von Bunge was Professor of Physical Chemistry from 1921 until his death.

Spiro worked in the field of physical chemistry and colloid chemistry. His developments have led to the production of aminophenazone ( Pyramidon ).

He was also editor of the Annual Report of Animal Physiology and provided important insights on the mineral metabolism of the animals.

Spiro died unexpectedly of a heart attack, leaving his two sons and his wife. His brother was the philologist Friedrich Spiro.

Writings

• Contributions to the knowledge of the Oxalessigesters. Becker's University printing office, Würzburg, 1889, at the same time: Würzburg, Faculty of Humanities, Diss, 1889
• About the inflammation -causing properties of cinnamic acid. Med Inaug. - Diss. In 1893.
• About physical and physiological selection. Habilitation thesis in 1897; Reprint: J. F. Bergmann, Munich 1929
• With Leopold Lichtwitz and Raphael Eduard Liesegang (Ed.): Medical colloid teaching. Publisher Theodor Steinkopff, Dresden and Leipzig 1934
• Goethe and the biology ( lecture ). In: Swiss medical weekly. No. 12, 1932, p 273