[Virchow and the cancer of Frederick III]

Friedrich Wilhelm, born 1831, was the eldest son of Wilhelm I, king of Prussia 1861 and the first German emperor 1871. He was educated in European culture and decided liberal in his political way of thinking and came in opposition to his father, the soldier-king and to the "iron-chancellor" Bismarck, who had the dominant influence over his father and over German politics. One of Friedrich Wilhelms political sympathizer was Rudolf Virchow, the great pathologist, who was also a liberal member of parliament in Prussia and later in Germany. He opposed Bismarcks war-policy, argued in favour of a peaceful unifying of Germany and fought for parliamentary influence on politics and the responsibility of ministers to parliament. Friedrich Wilhelm was doomed to remain crown prince without influence for most of his life, since his father lived unto 91 years of age. The year before he succeeded his father as emperor Friedrich III, he became hoarse and the doctors i.e., the English laryngologist Mackenzie inspected his vocal cords and took a biopsy, which Virchow diagnosed as a benignant inflammatory reaction. Later on it became apparent that the crown prince suffered from cancer. He declined a radical operation as too risky but was soon compelled to have a tracheotomy performed, when he was on the point of being choked by the cancer. During his 99 days as emperor he could only communicate by writing, and he had not power enough left to fulfill his intention to dismiss Bismarck and initiate a liberal policy, including friendship with England - his beloved wife was the eldest daughter of queen Victoria. After his death his son, emperor Wilhelm II, took a quite different course, that led to World War I. If Friedrich III had been a less intensive smoker and not developed cancer, world history might have taken a different course.