On the 150th birthday of Paul Julius Möbius (1853-1907)

Abstract

In memory of Paul Julius Möbius (1853-1907) on the occasion of his 150th birthday Among his profession Leipzig neurologist and psychiatrist Paul Julius Möbius made a name for himself by clinical studies on singular neurological topics. Several of these contributions have been acknowledged until today by giving his name to these symptoms or illnesses (cf. 'Möbius sign', 'Möbius syndrome', 'Möbius disease'). It was also him who divided nervous illnesses into endogenous and exogenous ones. Furthermore, Möbius made significant contributions towards the understanding of the causes for some mental illnesses, e.g. it was him who postulated a psychogenic development of hysteria. Through his pathographies as well as his work as a major reviewer and editor of 'Schmidt's Annals of Domestic and Foreign Entire Medicine' Möbius became known to a greater public. Even more well-known, if not infamous, Möbius's name is for his pamphlet on 'The Physiological Mental Weakness of Woman'. As a result of it's repeated republication he was accused to be hating women and his major contributions towards the progress of the neurosciences have been neglected.