The person behind the eponym: Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig (1790-1865)

Abstract

In 1836, Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig described a fast-spreading, nearly always fatal infection involving the connective tissues of the neck and floor of the mouth. Named after this Stuttgart physician, the condition has been known since as "Ludwig's angina". This biographical sketch highlights the life and times of the man behind the eponym, who was lauded for his surgical prowess at the age of 19, went on to become president of the Württemberg Medical Association, and whose name and the condition he described continue to be recognized today.