he took the examen artium in 1879 and enrolled in medicine studies. after leading a social life among the "kristiania bohême", being engaged to bokken lasson for some years, he graduated with the cand.med. degree in 1893. he tried his luck as a general practitioner in aalesund, but quit after three years. he was hired as a physician in congo free state (from 1908: belgian congo) in 1897, and remained here until 1920, except for a study leave at the liverpool school of tropical medicine (lstm) in 1902–03.