Neisser en de druiper

In 1879, during his specialization in dermatology, Albert Ludwig Sigesmund Neisser (1855-1916) discovered the bacterial cause of gonorrhoea. The gonococcus – Neisseria gonorrhoea – would, however, not bear his name until 1933. Neisser’s early research focused primarily on venereal diseases, syphilis in particular, and on leprosy. Later, as a hygienist, he became a passionate advocate of public clinics for venereal diseases, regulated prostitution, and health education. In 1916, Neisser died of sepsis after lithotripsy for nephrolithiasis. His scientific inheritance includes many publications on a variety of venereal and skin diseases and public health-related topics, and textbooks such as Ikonographia dermatologica and Stereoskopischer Medizinischer Atlas.

Conflict of interest and financial support: disclosure forms provided by the authors are available along with the full text of this article at www.ntvg.nl, search for A6252; click on ‘Belangenverstrengeling’ (‘Conflict of interest’).