Vilhelm Magnus — pioneer neurosurgeon

Abstract

✓ In parallel with but completely independent from Harvey Cushing, Norway had its own giant in the establishment of the special field of neurological surgery. Vilhelm Magnus (1871–1929), born in the United States in Fillmore County, Minnesota, was Norway's pioneering neurosurgeon. Following graduation in Oslo, he started his clinical training in neurology and became an early member of the small group of neurologists of the time who were dissatisfied with the therapeutic nihilism generally accepted in relation to diseases of the nervous system. After working with Victor Horsley, whom he held in high esteem, Magnus devoted himself to surgically treatable lesions in the nervous system. During a quarter of a century he single-handedly established the special field of neurological surgery in Norway. Magnus was a far-seeing and brilliant surgeon with a broad intellectual mind, a startling diligence, and wide research activities. He published his first scientific paper in 1899 and his total contribution to the literature amounted to 70 papers. In 1901 he was able to demonstrate the importance of the corpus luteum in the first 3 weeks of pregnancy. As early as 1903 Magnus manifested his interest in the surgical treatment of brain tumors. In 1926 his surgical material comprised 216 patients, with an 8% operative mortality rate among 161 cases of supratentorial tumor versus 17% for 55 cases of infratentorial tumors, including 14 cases of acoustic tumor. Vilhelm Magnus, who visited Harvey Cushing in 1928, has hitherto not been given the attention he merits.