Heinrich Laehr


Heinrich Laehr was a German psychiatrist born in Sagan, Silesia.
In 1843 he obtained his medical doctorate from the University of Halle, where he was a student of Peter Krukenberg. In 1848 he became an assistant to Heinrich Philipp August Damerow at the Provinzial-Irrenanstalt outside of Halle. In 1853 he founded Schweizerhof, a mental asylum for women at Zehlenderf-Berlin. Despite numerous obstacles, the institution experienced expansion throughout his lifetime. In 1889 his son Hans became medical director of the clinic. In 1898 at Zehlendorf he established Haus Schönow, a sanatorium for individuals with nervous disorders. His son Max served as its director.
Laehr was a pioneer of the psychiatric asylum system, known for his talents in organization. He was instrumental in the planning and development of institutions at Lengerich, Eberswalde, Andernach, Schwerin, Merzig, Düren and Owinsk, Berlin-Dalldorf, Grafenberg and Potsdam. From 1885 he was editor-in-chief of the Allgemeine Zeitschrift für Psychiatrie und psychisch-gerichtliche Medicin. In addition, he was co-founder and chairman of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie.
His name is associated with "Laehr-Henneberg hard palate", a reflex associated with pseudobulbar palsy. It occurs when the hard palate is tickled, resulting in contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle and lowering of the upper lip. The reflex is named in conjunction with neurologist Richard Henneberg.

Selected publications