Joseph Barth 

Professor of Ophthalmology

Born: Valletta (Malta) 28/10/1746; died: Vienna (Austria) 07/04/1818. Education: Anatomical & Surgical School at Sacra Infermeria, Valletta [Malta], Santo Spirito Hospital in Rome [Italy], University of Vienna [Austria].  Qualified 1772. Career: appointed Public Teacher in Ophthalmology and Anatomy [1773], Professor of Ophthalmology and Anatomy [1774] and Oculist and Professor of Physiology [1786] at University of Vienna; nominated Royal Counsellor [1774] and appointed oculist to Emperor Joseph II [1776]; retired 1791 but maintained post of personal imperial physician and ophthalmologist until his death. Achievements: Joseph Barth was to gain renown in ophthalmologic practice and to occupy the first Chair of Ophthalmology in Europe. His appointment to the post by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria was made in consideration of his "special skill in eye diseases as well as his aptitude in finer anatomy". The professorship occupied by Barth remained the leader in ophthalmology with the subsequent professorship being instituted in Berlin only in 1866. Barth also opened a private nursing home and the first public eye clinic in the Vienna General Hospital in 1784, wherein he operated on cases of cataract. He apparently designed the original version of the "Beer's knife" that was subsequently modified and popularized by his student. His clinical renown led to his appointment as Imperial Oculist after he successfully treated Kaiser Joseph II of a stubborn "ophthalmitis".  Barth was very much a clinical teacher and was responsible for the training of several renowned physicians, notably Joseph Ehrenritter, Johann Adam Schmidt, Georg Joseph Beer, Georg Prochaska, Jacob Santerelli, G.B. Quadri, and Pietro Magistretti. He also established an Anatomical Museum and founded a medical library that contained 1500 volumes. Barth did not publish extensively preferring clinical teaching. His publications included an anatomical work on myology Anfangsgrunde der Muskellehre [Vienna, 1786, 2nd ed. 1819] and an operative text on cataract removal Etwas uber die Ausziehung des graven Staars fur den genubten Operateur [Vienna, 1797, Salzburg, 1797].  In 1827, Dr. Stefano Zerafa described Joseph Barth as "….a man of great merits, Maltese citizen, Chief Physician and Counsellor to Her Sacred Majesty, Professor of Sublime Anatomy and Physiology in the Academy of Vienna, undoubtedly the first among ophthalmologists….."
References: P. Cassar: The Ophthalmic Surgeon Joseph Barth 1746-1818. University Press, Malta, 1982, +38p; C. Savona-Ventura: Knight Hospitaller Medicine in Malta [1530-1798]. PEG, Malta, 2004, p.149-150.