Ernst Schweninger, personal physician of the German chancellor and director of the Charite Dermatology Clinic 1884-1902

Ernst Schweninger was at the age of 33 years already world renowned for being Bismarck's personal physician. In 1884, his grateful patient made him chief of the Department of Dermatology in Berlin and Professor of Dermatology. The subsequent years were marked by political struggles within the university, but he still produced a number of scientific publications, and is still remember for his first description of anetoderma type Schweninger-Buzzi. Dermatology and his activities at the Berlin clinic from whose direction he resigned in 1902 accounted for only one period in his life. His main interest was the physiologic-dietetic therapeutic method which he applied also to dermatology. Later on, he dissociated himself from scientific medicine and became the founder of a school for natural healing methods. The present report is designed to keep alive the memories of this politically active physician.