Emil Gruening

Background

Emil Gruening was born in Inowrazlaw, Hohensalza, East Prussia (nowadays Inowrozlaw, Poland) on October 2, 1842, the son of Moritz and Bertha (Thorner) Gruening.

Education

Emil Gruening was an earnest student and at the time of his graduation from the Gymnasium intended to become a teacher.

He secured pupils in private families, teaching the classics and foreign languages, then, upon the advice of Dr. Willard Parker, he matriculated in 1864 at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York.

In 1865 Emil Gruening enlisted in the 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry and participated in the battle of Hatcher’s Run and the siege of Petersburg.

He was also present at Appomattox at the surrender of General Lee.

Honorably discharged, he resumed his studies, graduating from the medical school in 1867.

Career

Emil Gruening then spent three years in post-graduate work in London, Paris, and Berlin, under such masters as Von Graefe, Virchow, and Langenbeck. Returning to New York in 1870, he was appointed to the staff of the Ophthalmic and Aural Institute.

Later he became personal assistant to Dr. Hermann Knapp, who was chief surgeon there.

In 1878 Gruening was appointed ophthalmic surgeon to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, where he served for thirty-four years.

The following year he began a twenty-five year service at the Mt. Sinai Hospital, and in 1880 he began a twenty-four year connection with the German (Lenox Hill) Hospital, serving them also as otologist.

He was professor of ophthalmology at the New York Polyclinic Hospital for thirteen years.

Achievements

• His contributions to medical literature represented important original investigations in the field of his specialty. To the System of Diseases of the Eye, edited by W. F. Norris and C. A. Oliver, he contributed the chapter on "Wounds and Injuries of the Eyeball and its Appendages” (vol. Ill, 1898). He was one of the first to describe, and to operate successfully upon, brain abscess of otitic origin ("Two Cases of Otitic Brain Abscess; Operation; Recovery, ” Mt. Sinai Hospital Reports, vol. II, 1900), and was also one of the first to call attention to the danger of blindness due to the use of wood alcohol (“Methyl Alcohol Amblyopia, ” Archives of Ophthalmology, July 1910). His research upon the relation of ocular symptoms in nose affections, as well as his work upon the mastoid, its diagnosis and cure, were genuine contributions to medical science and aided in the development of the infant specialty of otology.

Membership

Emil Gruening was a member of the national medical societies and served as chairman of both the American Ophthalmological and the American Otological societies.

Personality

Emil Gruening was a skilful operator and devised many new instruments for surgical use. He was also a thorough diagnostician and an ideal teacher and leader of men.

Apart from his profession Emil Gruening was passionately fond of music, able in the criticism of art, and devotedly attached to his family and the education of his children.

Interests

• Music, art, education

Connections

Emil Gruening married, in 1874, Rose Fridenberg, who died in 1876.

In 1880 he was married to her sister, Phebe, who with four daughters and one son survived him.

Father:

Moritz Gruening

Mother:

Bertha (Thorner) Gruening

1st wife:

Rose Fridenberg

2nd wife:

Phebe Fridenberg