Treatise of Pathological Anatomy

work by Rokitansky

Also known as: “Handbuch der pathologischen Anatomie”

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July 14, 2026

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The Treatise of Pathological Anatomy (1842–46) was a seminal work by Karl von Rokitansky, an Austrian pathologist. This multi-volume publication was instrumental in establishing pathological anatomy as a scientific discipline. Rokitansky's extensive research, based on nearly 100,000 autopsies, aimed to systematically document the characteristics of diseases within the body. His work laid the foundation for modern medical practice by providing a comprehensive understanding of disease at the anatomical level. The treatise helped elevate the study of pathology, contributing to Vienna becoming a leading global medical center in the late 19th century.1

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Karl, baron von Rokitansky
(1842–46; Treatise of Pathological Anatomy, 1849–52), represented an elevation of the discipline to the status of an established science.
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(1842–46; Treatise of Pathological Anatomy, 1849–52), represented an elevation of the discipline to the status of an established science.
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