[Philipp Bozzini (1773-1809): The endoscopic idealist].

Philipp Bozzini was born in Mainz on the 25th May 1773. In 1794 he moved to Jena to continue his studies under Gottfried Gruner. After his first comprehensive report on the Lichtleiter (light conductor) (1806), he returned to Mainz, obtained his doctorate, and became a practicing physician. His report on the Lichtleiter created great interest; he was the first person to construct an autonomous endoscope. Against all criticism, Bozzini started an international discussion, based on his awkward Lichtleiter, which brought his idea to an extensive medical public.