Wilhelm Meyer and the Adenoids

Tn 1968 it was 100 years since Wilhelm Meyer (Fig 1), the father of Danish otology, published his epoch making work on the adenoids, proving their clinical importance, and indicating their treatment. Wilhelm Meyer was born in 1824 in the Danish town of Fredericia, where his father was an army surgeon. His father came from Eckernförde in Sleswig-Holstein, a province which then belonged to Denmark. His mother was from Copenhagen. Meyer studied medicine in Copenhagen where, in 1849, he took his degree with honors. He was considered capable and highly intelligent, and he therefore planned great things for himself concerning his future training. In the meantime he left the metropolis for a short stay with his parents. His father and family had, however, moved to Glückstadt in Sleswig, a German-minded part of Denmark. He was forced to prolong his stay somewhat longer than intended, for his father had fallen ill