[The beginning of the beginning of clinical chemistry in Norway]

Germany and Austria were the leading countries in the development of chemical pathology which clinical chemistry was then called. In these countries this field vas regarded as a separate specialty around 1842, but in Norway not until 100 years later. The most prominant names were the Germans J.J. von Scherer and J.F. Simon, and the Austrian J.F. Heller. One of the driving forces behind the application of chemical pathology in clinical work was the creator of cellular pathology R.L.K. von Virchow together with the outstanding E.F.E. Hoppe-Seyler, who was responsible for chemical pathology at Charité Hospital in Berlin. Heller was head of the clinical laboratory at Wien Allgemeines Krankenhaus. It was undoubtly the fame of these persons that influenced many Norwegians in their choice of where to study. Dr. Ludvig Dahl stayed with Heller in 1853, and published from there the first Norwegian survey of chemical pathology based upon his own laboratory studies. Dr. Emanuel Winge worked together with both von Virchow and Hoppe-Seyler in 1857. In 1858 he was appointed pathologist and head of the newly established laboratory at the State Hospital (Christiania), a position which also included responsibility for clinical pathology. Winge must be regarded as the first clinical chemist and the founder of the clinical chemistry in Norway.