Lucius Rüedi

Lucius Rüedi (* in Igis (Graubünden), † 1870 in Alvaneu (Graubünden) ) was a Swiss pulmonologist.

Importance

Lucius Rüedi first recognized physicians the therapeutic effects of high-altitude climate on tuberculosis patients. In May 1844, he reported in a letter to the Zurich baths doctor Conrad Meyer- Ahrens that children who had been diagnosed with varying degrees of severity of tuberculosis, could be released after treatment as cured and only wore them scars on the lungs.

Rüedi observation shook the then dominant in professional circles prejudice about the so-called " mountain sickness " ( altitude sickness ): The thin air at high altitudes would irritate and ruin what would soon lead to a general physical decline, the infected lung excessively. Doctors therefore preferred to the time before, in order to cure lung disease in warm areas like the Riviera to send the Côte d'Azur or to Egypt.

Professional career

From 1828-30 and 1835-48 was Lucius Rüedi of a country doctor in Davos (Graubünden ), from the summer of 1848 a country doctor in Alvaneu (Graubünden).

Family and Private

Lucius Rüedi was married to Rachel Conrad. The couple had eight children, including six boys. The eldest was called William, the youngest, Carl.

Several sons were, like his father, doctors. Wilhelm, Paul ( * 1844) and Carl ( 1848-1901 ) practiced among others in the United States. The largest gained fame Carl, who treated the Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson, among others.

Documents

• The Davos Courier, Vol XIV, No. 14 /15, June 14, 1901, no page
• Davos leaves. Transport organ for Ragaz, Prättigau, Davos and the Engadine; XXX. Jg, No. 25, Davos, June 22, 1901, no page

• Swiss
• Born in the 18th or 19th century
• Died in 1870
• Physician (19th century)
• Pulmonologist
• Tuberculosis
• Man