Sklifosovsky: biography of an outstanding Russian surgeon

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Many of us have heard about the Moscow Research Institute of Emergency Medicine. Sklifosovsky. In Sklif, doctors save hundreds of patients from death every day. Sklifosovsky’s name is heard from news, from life and serials.

I wanted to know more about the famous surgeon. Sklifosovsky’s biography shocked me! The world authority of the outstanding physician was immeasurable. My lowest bow to Nikolai Vasilyevich for all his good deeds, dedication, contribution to medicine, to a person who has overcome all the hardships of life …

Nikolai Vasilievich Sklifosovsky

He was born in the spring of 1836 on a farm in the Kherson province. Kolya was the ninth child of the twelve children of Vasily Sklifosovsky, an impoverished nobleman. The large family lived on the modest salary of his father – a clerk of the local quarantine office.

After the death of his mother, due to lack of money, the father had to send his younger children to the Odessa orphanage. In the orphanage, ten-year-old Kolya experienced a mental shock, believing that his father had betrayed him. Several years later, the father passed away. The boy finds his salvation in his studies.

Nikolai grew up hardworking, diligent and a good student. His favorite subjects are history, literature, science and foreign language. In 1854 he graduated from the Odessa gymnasium with a silver medal.

By this time, the young man made a firm decision to devote his life to medicine. In 1859 he successfully completed the course of the medical faculty of Moscow University.

Returning to Odessa, he was an intern, and then headed the surgical department of the city hospital. The talented surgeon worked hard, his skills and experience grew. Four years later, he defended his doctoral dissertation.

In the period 1866-1867, Sklifosovsky worked in Germany at the Pathological Institute. Then he worked with colleagues in clinics in France and Scotland, taught at the University of Edinburgh. In European countries, he saw all the advanced achievements of medicine (antiseptics and general anesthesia).

After returning to Russia, the professor published a series of medical works. Soon he was invited to the Imperial Kiev University at the Department of Surgery. In 1871 Sklifosovsky transferred to the Imperial Military Medical Academy of St. Petersburg.

The brave doctor took part in many European military campaigns. He saved the wounded in the Austro-Prussian, Franco-Prussian, Russian-Turkish wars.

Personal life

The paradox and tragedy of the scientist’s personal life was that while saving thousands of other people’s lives, he could not save his family.

Once Sklifosovsky contracted typhus, but, thanks to the care of his wife Liza, the disease receded. Unfortunately, Lisa died of typhus, leaving her husband with three children. Nikolai Vasilyevich took this grief hard, he could not forgive himself that he could not save his beloved.

With the permission of the Russian government, Sklifosovsky goes to the Austro-Prussian war, leaving the children to the governess. In war, he risked the lives of as many soldiers. Amid the howling of shells, following the Hippocratic oath, he rescues the soldiers and officers of both armies. The military field surgeon operated continuously, forgetting about sleep and food.

The brave doctor took part in many European military campaigns. Upon returning home, he saw his healthy and well-groomed children, cleanliness and comfort in the house. Nikolai Vasilievich marries Sofya Alexandrovna – the governess of his children. In this marriage, four more children were born, but three of them died prematurely.

The eldest son Vladimir, who joined the revolutionary organization, is given the task of taking the life of the governor of Poltava. He could not take this step. The governor was a friend of his father and often visited their house. Vladimir committed suicide.

The second son, Nikolai, died in the Russian-Japanese war. Third – Alexander disappeared without a trace after the October Revolution. In 1919, the paralyzed widow and daughter were brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks.

Daughter – Olga Nikolaevna Sklifosovskaya-Yakovleva lived to be 95 years old. Her husband was her father’s assistant, M.P. Yakovlev. The spouses are buried in Moscow.

last years of life

In recent years, Nikolai Vasilievich struggled with a stroke. After leaving St. Petersburg, the scientist settled in the estate near Poltava, but soon in 1904 he suddenly died. Buried near the site of the Battle of Poltava.

Sklifosovsky’s contribution to medicine

Short:

• an innovative surgeon, author of seventy scientific papers;
• the scientist developed new approaches to surgery;
• was the first in the world to use local anesthesia;
• introduced the aseptic method for the first time;
• was the first to disinfect instruments, bandages and gowns of doctors;
• invented the “Russian lock” surgical joint;
• introduced X-ray studies;
• offered to keep patient records;
• he owns the development of various surgical interventions;
• proposed methods for the treatment of cerebral hernias and hernias of the abdominal wall, cancer of the tongue and jaws, stomach, removal of bladder stones;
• on his initiative, congresses of surgeons began to be held in Russia;
• implemented the project of the Clinical City on Devichye Pole in Moscow;
• the first Russian Institute for Advanced Training of Physicians was organized.

Video

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