[In memory of the 160(th) birthday and the 80(th) anniversary of the death of Heinrich Irenäus Quincke, as well as of his description of angioedema 120 years ago].

In the year 2002 we celebrate the 160(th) birthday and the 80(th) anniversary of the death of Heinrich Irenäus Quincke, former head of the department of internal medicine at the University of Kiel from 1878 to 1908. Moreover we remember the description of the angioedema by Quincke in the "Monatsheften für Praktische Dermatologie" 120 years ago. Because his name is so tightly linked with angioedema, Quincke's other discoveries and achievements are scarcely recalled today. Some of his other accomplishments include the invention of the lumbar puncture, the initiation of the term siderosis, the study of the resorption of inorganic iron to treat iron-deficiency anemia and his early contributions to pulmonary surgery. Quincke was the first to describe the causative organism of animal favus, which today is known as Trichophyton quinckeanum. Quincke suspected a syphilitic infection as the cause of aortic aneurysms and recommended antisyphilitic therapy. In the beginning of his career in Kiel, Quincke gave lectures not only in internal medicine but also in dermatology and venerology, pediatrics, bacteriology and public health, until chairs were established for these disciplines. Quincke was for four terms Dean of the medical faculty and in 1900 Rector of the University of Kiel.