Eberhard
Rosén-Rosenblad

in Swedish

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad

1714-1796

He was born in Svenljunga municipality in Västergötland and ended his days in Lund. His father, who was a priest, wanted his academically gifted son to also become a priest, but an illness in his younger years made him become interested in medicine.

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad is considered one of the founders of Lund Hospital and he was a doctor in Ramlösa health spa for many years.

He was a very versatile person, who in addition to being a professor of practical medicine, was a good botanist and knowledgeable humanist..

The portrait hangs in Biskopshuset i Lund (IDstory)

Some relatives

Eberhard had a brother Nils, ennobled von Rosenstein (IDstory) who was born a few years earlier. Neither he become a priest, but became a prominent physician and is considered the founder of Swedish pediatrics.

Eberhard married Ulrika v Hermansson.

Eberhard Rosén became a professor of practical medicine in Lund and between 1759 and 1795 was chief physician and well superintendent at Ramlösa Brunn. (The empasis is Rámlösa which is said to derive from the word ramm which means wetland and 'lösa' which is a type of slope).

He also had a private practice in Ramlösa and is said to have been a very committed and well-liked doctor.

He was born Rosén, was ennobled in 1770 and then took the surname Rosenblad. Rosén-Rosenblad was dean of Lund University in 1755. List of deans at Lund university↗ svW ...

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad

The portrait above hangs at Biskopshuset (IDstory) is painted by Martin David Roth, who has also made a portrait of the priest and revivalist Henric Schartau (IDstory). That portrait, which hangs in the University Library, is the model for the statue of Schartau at Lund Cathedral.

Martin David Roth, 1756-1805, was born in Lund, studied at the Art Academy in Stockholm and was a pupil to Carl Gustaf Pilo ↗ svW. He was an ward-winning portrait painter and master draftsman at Lund University in 1783.

Lund universitety hospital

Lund University Hospital counts 1768 as its year of birth. Several books have been written about its history. One of the most recent came in 1968 to celebrate its 200th anniversary. It is called The Hospital in Lund 1768-1968 and is written by Alfred Flaum.

Discussions had been going on for decades about financing a new hospital, how many beds it would have, where it would be located, and whether it would be linked to the training of new medical professionals..

Kristianstad was for a while an alternative location and the medical faculty sometimes made noises about not contributing to the funding if the hospital was not beneficial to the new medical students.

Another contentious issue was where in Lund the new hospital should be located, or as it was often called at the time - a nosocomium. From the Greek nosos disease and komizein care.

In the 18th century and well into the 19th century, Lund's streets often resembled a wet mud field. Cattle were driven through the city and pigs ran loose. Some proposals were rejected as they were considered difficult to reach - for example, the lower part of Södergatan and the so-called Plantagehuset at Kävlingevägen. They finally agreed on the Munckska huset at Bredgatan..

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad sat in his chamber and prepared proposals and calculations. In meetings with representatives of cities, parishes and the various estates, pledges were presented and debated..

In our time it seems strange that there would have to be so much talk, to finance a few hospital beds. A proposal for six beds was considered too expensive and the hospital opened with 2 beds. Six sick beds would cost a total of 3,490 rdr smt (silver riksdaler coins).

Daily maintenance for six people   1.095 rdr smt
Internal and external medications   500 rdr smt
Internal and external medications   160 rdr smt
Salary for the hospital's medicus and surgeon 1.095 rdr sm
Salary for nurse and cook   240 rdr smt
Fuel and firewood for heating three rooms   120 rdr smt
for the stove   100 rdr smt
Inventory clothings and bed linen
S:a 3.490 rdr smt

Too many patients

Shortly after the hospital opened, a check showed that there were three patients against the stipulated 2. An early case of overcrowding that was then, as now, brought up for serious discussion by the board of directors..

Rosén-Rosenblad had to make a new budget (or 'stat' as they called it at the time). According to his calculation, two beds would cost 1,357 daler and 16 silver coins. They then haggled over the remuneration of the carpenter, the mason and the cook.

Church pastors, governors, courtiers, professors, some barons and counts, councilors, manufacturers and high military officials are among the potentates who discussed and planned. But the future USIL had one of its first crises already in 1788 and it was decided to close the hospital. It took three years before the funds and determination for a new start were in place.

Perhaps one could say that the hospital has since been hit by the difficult-to-cure disease of growth pains at various times. When the author of these lines was working temporarily as a consultant on budget issues within Malmöhus County Council in the early 1970s, the finance manager noted that the organisation is so large that it cannot be controlled. That made some 'impression' on a young mind.

More about Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad

He is said to have been a good doctor and professor. The following was written in Lunds Weckoblad (Lund's Weekly)

...His generosity extends so far that he usually has one, then another, sometimes all the gentlemen who study medicine under his supervision summoned to him to teach them how to organize their studies, what books are necessary for them. He gives them full access to his library, recommends honorable and profitable undertakings to them, helps the poor out of his own pocket in their weak conditions, and takes the most tender care of their progress and well-being.

In his work as well superintendent and chief physician at Ramlösa health spa from 1759 to 1795, he also received patients and allowed many less well-off people to receive care without compensation.

Rosén-Rosenblad was a good botanist and, among other things, wrote a book about around 60 plants from Skåne, sorted in Linnaean order..

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad married Ulrika von Hermansson and his brother Nils married Ulrika's sister Christina von Hermansson.

Matthias Rosén-Rosenblad

Mattias Rosenblad was the son Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblad and Ulrika von Hermansson. He was born in Lund 1758 and died at Ekerö in 1847.

He became both a baron and a count for his services to the state and the royal family. In 1829 he became Minister of Justice ↗ svW and held that position until 1840.

Gravesite in Lund

THe tomstone is in block 32. In the background, the parking lot of Lund Hospital can be seen.

The tombstone has no names. The text reads

In 1875, a final resting place was prepared here for the ashes of the men and women who were first buried in the burial chambers in Lund Cathedral. This tombstone was erected in 1917.

Eberhard Rosén-Rosenblads hustru, Ulrica von Hermansson 1724-1798, är en av de övriga personer som vilar här.

Referenser

• About BiBB, a media company and an encyclopedia 4.0
• Irene Sjöberg. 'Nils Rosén von Rosenstein - Mannen som förlängde människolivet' | Alfred Flaum, Lasarettet i Lund 1768-1968
• Text/photo/web: Johan Schlasberg

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Published: 2010.05 Updated: 2025.06.16

Kategorier 20 Historical persons 45 Lund 16

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