He studied medicine for one semester at the University of Leipzig, then served as a volunteer in the Franco-Prussian War. In 1871 he resumed his studies at the University of Königsberg, receiving his doctorate in 1876 with the thesis "Ueber Ganglien und chronisch fungöse Sehnenscheiden-Entzündung". Following graduation, he worked for several months under surgeon Theodor Billroth at Vienna, then returned to Königsberg as an assistant to Karl Schönborn at the university hospital.[1]