Vyskovich

VYSKOVICH, Vladimir Konstantinovich (1854-1912), known Russian pathologist and bacteriologist. Graduated from the medical faculty of Kharkov University. In 1882 he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic: "On the disease of blood vessels in syphilis" and in 1884 was sent abroad for 2 years, where he worked in Göttingen (with Flügge in bacteriology and Orth in pathological anatomy). Here he completed two outstanding works: "Uber die Schicksale der ins Blut injizierten Mikroorganismen" (Zeitschrift f. Hygiene, Vol. I, 1886) with Flügge and "Beitrage zur Lelire von der Endocarditis" (Virchows Archiv, Vol. CXXX, 1886) with Orth. For some time V. worked in Leipzig with Ludwig (C. Ludwig), studying physiology. Returning from abroad, V. was elected by the medical faculty of Kharkov University to the chair of general pathology, but the Ministry of Public Education did not approve the election. Despite this, the faculty allowed V. to teach a parallel and mandatory course in general pathology, which he taught with outstanding success for 9 years, while also serving as a prosector at the department of pathological anatomy. In 1895 V. again attempted to obtain the chair of general pathology at Kharkov University, but without success. Subsequently V. took the chair of pathological anatomy at Kiev University, where he served as professor until his death. V. is known, mainly, as a major epidemiologist and in this field he distinguished himself especially after his trip to India (1897), where he was sent as head of a Russian expedition to study the plague epidemic. Later the government repeatedly turned to V.'s expertise when plague and cholera appeared within Russia. V. wrote over 30 printed works, mainly concerning questions of bacteriology and published in most cases in Russian journals. Independent in his views, V. paid great attention to public life and on this basis often came into conflict with the administration, which affected his official career. As a teacher and public figure, V. enjoyed great authority and for a long time served as chairman of many scientific societies.