[Prima inter pares--internal medicine in Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century].
In 1901 the Society for Internal Medicine was founded, the purpose of which was to reestablish unity within the field of internal medicine. Paediatrics, dermatology, laryngology, and neurology had established themselves as independent specialties and the unity of internal medicine had disintegrated in the 19th century. On the basis of Nothnagel's complications (First Department of Medicine) and Schrötter's treatment of tuberculosis in sanatoria (Third Department of Medicine), the 19th century continued to exert an influence on medicine until well into the first decade of the 20th century. Neusser furthered haematology and endocrinology and laid the foundations for the Central Roentgen Institute. Before the main task of neurological research became the concern of psychiatry, Frankl-Hochwart conducted research in the fields of neurology and neuro-endocrinology. With the appointment of Noorden, the study of pathological metabolism and diabetes became the principal concern of the First Medical Department. Nevertheless, the research work of his assistant Eppinger made a major contribution to electrocardiography in the first decade of our century. Similarly, Wilhelm Türk at Neusser's department helped to make Vienna a centre of haematology through his improvements in technique, his textbooks and, among other things, his description of agranulocystosis. Nesser's self-willed disciple, Franz Chvostek, continued to propagate making spot diagnoses, as introduced by his mentor, and Schrötter's disciple, Josef Sorgo, expanded on his teacher's endoscropic methods, which he eventually managed to develop into a new therapeutic procedure. Adolf von Strümpell took over Schrötter's "propaedeutic clinic," but returned to his homeland, Germany, a year after having been appointed to the position in Vienna.