[Friedrich Joseph Haass, a German physician in Moscow]

The physician and philanthropist Friedrich Joseph Haass (1780--1853) is known as the 'holy doctor of Moscow'. There is only one biography about him, which is based on archive documents. This biography, however, needs to be corrected and completed. F.J. Haass was born in Münstereifel, he studied medicine in Cologne and Göttingen, and in 1806 went to Moscow where he practised as a family doctor. There he quickly gained appreciation and prosperity as physician. From 1807--1812 he was medical superintendent of the Paul-Hospital. His scientific work consisted of a study of the Croup and the mineral springs of the Caucasus. From 1825--26 he was 'town physician' (Stadtphysicus) of Moscow. In 1829 a committee aimed at the protection of prisoners was founded in Moscow, and Haass was called into this committee. Up to his death he saw as his main task charitable work for imprisoned and deported persons. He became medical superintendent of the hospitals for prisoners, and later (1844) of a hospital founded by himself for the homeless sick as well. Haass fought with all his power and all his property for the sick "wretched" people, for bondmen and debitors. He achieved several mitigations of the hard conditions of confinement and of the march to Siberia. The essential part of his struggles was confined to the human aid he could give in his direct surroundings. They did not, however, exert any influence on the despotic principles of jurisdiction and of the execution of punishment in Russia.