ESMARCH, Os'infirK, JOHANNES FRIEDRICH VON (1S'23—). A German surgeon, born at TOnning, Schleswig-Holstein. He studied medi cine at Kiel and Gottingen, and in the Danish War of 18-18; served as lieutenant, as assistant as chief physician of the citizens' hos pital at Flensburg, and lastly as adjutant of Dr. Stromeyer. He became professor and director of the hospital at Kiel in 1857, and during the Sehleswig-Holstein War. 1864, he was eminent in hospital work, and during the Franco-German • War, 1870.71, he was physieian-general and con sulting surgeon to the army. Iu 187 1 he returned to Kiel as professor of surgery. His second wife is the Princess Henriette of Schleswig-Holstein, aunt of the present Empress of Germany. lie was for many years the greatest authority on gunshot wounds. He originated valuable improve ments in barrack hospitals. ambulances, etc., and is the inventor of the bloodless method of operating on the extremities, which consists of applying a bandage firmly to the extremity from its distal point upward, thus pressing the blood out of the limb before applying the tourniquet.
In this way danger from venous congestion after constricting the limb is avoided. This method was invented by Esmarch independently and in ignorance of similar suggestions by Grandesso Silvestri. of Vicenza. Among his medical works are: l'eber Bescktionen noel Sehussi•unden (1s51); Brit riige prahlischen rgie 15.53-00) ; 1 "cbcr chrunische Gelenkent.:iindungvn ( 18(i7 ) ; l'ebcr doll Kampf der ll ulna nitiit ycycn die Schreeken des Krieyes ( 1809; 20 ed, 1899) ; /),r erste Inhattd mill' dem Sehlach I felde (30 ed. 1899 ) ; 1 erba Ott:: u nd Feldlo:aret t ( l571) ; Ceberl,•finstliche Blut leere Lei(Iperat ionen I 1873 ) ; Handbuch der kricgschirurgischen Technik (IS77 and several subsequent editions) ; and Hie erste Mlle Lei Ein Ludt laden fiir Samariterschulen (17th ed. 1901).