Gottstein

Gottstein, Adolf (born in 1857), German physician, epidemiologist, organizer of public health. Gottstein's early works relate to histological and bacteriological techniques; but soon the main content of his works becomes the history, systematics, and statistics of epidemics, questions of immunity, etc. Together with Hueppe and Martius, Gottstein opposed the prevailing view that 'the only factor determining an infectious disease is the constant virulence of the pathogen,' and put forward the need to take into account the predisposition of the organism and other factors (the well-known 'disease formula according to Gottstein-Martius-Strümpel'). In the analysis of epidemiological problems, Gottstein often employs mathematical methods, in particular the theory of prob

abilities. In 1911, Gottstein begins working in the Charlottenburg municipal administration, where he soon becomes head of the public health department (Gesundheitsfürsorge), developing it from a narrow sphere of care for the poor and sanitary service of schools into a broad system of social-hygienic measures. At the same time, Gottstein works in the medical-professional organization. From 1919 to 1924, Gottstein was put in charge of all medical affairs in Prussia (Ministerialdirektor der Medizinalabteilung des Preussischen Ministeriums für Volkswohlfahrt). Gottstein contributed to the organization of social-hygienic academies in Breslau, Düsseldorf, and Charlottenburg; in the latter he taught directly. Gottstein wrote over 70 works in the field of social hygiene, epidemiology, and bacteriology; of these the most important are: 'Allgemeine Epidemiologie' (Bibliothek für Sozialwissenschaften, B. XII, Lpz., 1897); 'Geschichte der Hygiene im XIX Jahrhundert' (B., 1901); 'Die soziale Hygiene, ihre Methoden, Aufgaben u. Ziele' (Lpz., 1907); 'Das Heilwesen der Gegenwart, Gesundheitslehre u. Gesundheitspolitik' (B., 1924); together with G. Tugendreich- 'Sozialärztliches Praktikum' (B., 1920). Gottstein, together with A. Schlossmann and L. Teleky, edited the largest modern manual on social hygiene- 'Handbuch der sozialen Hygiene' (B. I-VI, B., 1925-28). From 1926, Gottstein edits the 'Zeitschrift für das gesamte Krankenwesen'.