An unrecognized renal physiologist: Friedrich Wöhler

Wöhler, in 1828, was the first chemist to synthesize urea. In 1824, towards the end of his medical studies, he had already published an important article on the renal excretion of some 41 substances administered orally or parenterally and on the links between their renal excretion and their metaboli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of nephrology Vol. 15; no. 6; p. 528
Main Author Richet, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland 1995
Subjects
Germany
History, 19th Century
Humans
Kidney - physiology
Nephrology - history
Physiology - history
Germany
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Summary:Wöhler, in 1828, was the first chemist to synthesize urea. In 1824, towards the end of his medical studies, he had already published an important article on the renal excretion of some 41 substances administered orally or parenterally and on the links between their renal excretion and their metabolism: salts of potassium are excreted either reduced or oxidized, urine can be acidic when the blood is alkaline, the rate of water excretion is influenced by the rate of substances excreted in the same form as they are administered. He adumbrated the general concepts on the role of the kidney in the maintenance of the composition of the body. Had he continued in this direction, Wöhler would have been recognized not only as a remarkable chemist but also as a great physiologist.
ISSN:0250-8095
DOI:10.1159/000168901