Theophil Friedrich Christen

Theophil Friedrich Christian ( born April 1, 1873 in Basel, † May 6, 1920 in Geneva ) was a physician, mathematician and physicist. He was also active as an economist in the framework developed by Silvio Gesell free economy, was dedicated esperantist and reformers.

Life

Christians came from a merchant family. His father was Theophil Christian -Weber, his mother was a granddaughter of the famous Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler.

Theophil Christen graduated from the high school and then studied mathematics at the University of Basel. This was followed by studies in Leipzig. Additional focus here was the physics, chemistry and meteorology. He was then a doctorate in Basel, with its contributions to the use of the free path of integration.

During a two- year stay in France, he worked at the Paris Observatory. In 1898 he returned to Switzerland and worked until 1901 at the Zurich Polytechnic. Here Christians made ​​acquaintance with the methods of physical medicine and decided to start in Bern with a study of general medicine. After successfully graduating, he opened in Uetendorf - Kirchdorf bei Thun a country doctor's office. In 1905 he obtained his Ph.D. studies on ascites and cerebrospinal fluid pericardii to the doctor of medicine. For a time as a spa physician in Albisbrunn joined them. By the way, he acquired located in La Chaux -de-Fonds knowledge in general surgery. Study in London and Philadelphia ( Pennsylvania) followed.

1908 took over Christians a doctor's office in Bern and prepared alongside his habilitation before. 1909 gave him the Berne Medical School teaching permission for the Department of Internal Medicine and in particular for the field of physical therapy. Topic of his habilitation lecture was: " The clarity of the X-ray image as an absorption problem." 1915 led Theophil Christen way to Munich. Here he headed the Institute set up especially for him for Radiation Research.

In addition to his scientific work, Theophil Christen operated as a staunch vegetarians in the so-called Reform Movement. He was also a committed esperantist. With Silvio Gesell and the reasoned from this free business move came in contact with Christians in 1901. He joined then later the Swiss free money and free-range waistband with and began with the scientific processing of Gesellschen money and land reform ideas. In 1918 he participated as secretary of Silvio Gesell at the Munich Soviet Republic. After the failure of Christians were arrested along with Gesell and Karl Polenske and charged with treason. However, the state court found the three free after several months of pre-trial detention, after Christians returned to Switzerland.

A massive trigeminal neuralgia, at the Theophil Christians increasingly suffered, resulted in severe mental disorders. 1920 sought and found Christians to commit suicide in the Lake Geneva.

Importance

Theophil Christen has researched and published in a broad scientific spectrum.

His most important works were concerned with the electro-therapy and radiology. In 1913, in this context his monograph entitled measurement and dosage of x-rays. It first described coherently problems of application of X-ray technology and was until the early 1950s as a fundamental reference work. Also in other medical fields published important monographs Christians, so among other things: the doctrine of the fractures and the dynamic pulse examination.

As reformers he was involved primarily in the area of food and beverage reform. His most important popular science writings are: Our great food follies and Human reproduction and the great epidemics of our time. In various writings and lectures, he also dealt with the cancer.

Since 2006, the Swiss Society of Radiobiology and Medical Physics gives the Theophil Christen Medal for outstanding achievements in these areas.

Works in selection

Medicine

  • Measurement and dosing of X-rays, in: X-ray Research, Vol 28 (. Atlas of the normal and pathological anatomy in typical X-ray images, ed v. Albers- Schönberg), Hamburg 1913
  • The doctrine of the fractures
  • The dynamic pulse examination, Leipzig 1914
  • About the use of two physical laws to the bloodstream, paperback, Berlin 1910
  • The pulse diagnostics on mathematical and physical basis, Berlin 1909

Life Reform

  • Our great food follies
  • Human reproduction
  • The great epidemics of our time

Economics

  • From the days of the revolution Munich, Zurich, 1919.
  • Lose exploitation free economy: Free of private exploitation! - Free of state paternalism! - Strong self- responsibility!
  • The monetary system: a dynamic system
  • The purchasing power of money and its importance for the economy
  • The political wife Primer, 1919
  • Free Economy: An economic order based on competition and private enterprise but Eliminating the social injustice of unearned income ( translated, and expanded by Philip Pye ), Botosani / Romania 1929
  • The monetary system. A dynamic system, 2nd edition, Vienna 1932
  • The Alternative to Capitalism and Socialism ( translated, and expanded by Philip Pye ), San Antonio 1940

Literature in selection

  • Uwe Busch, Werner Batz: Pioneers of Medical Physics - Theophil Christen (1873-1920), Journal of Medical Physics, Jg.15, Issue 1, 03-2005, pp. 59-60
  • Wilhelm Merks: A tyrant - the miracle of Wörgl. Drama with a prologue and four acts based on historical events, Garmisch -Partenkirchen 1951 - The prelude of this theater piece plays in the summer of 1919 and shows Theophil Christen and Silvio Gesell before the Munich state court.
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