Alexander Spengler

Alexander Spengler (20 March 1827 – 11 January 1901) was a Swiss physician of German origin and the first physician specializing in tuberculosis who created a sanatorium in Davos aimed to treat patients by providing them access to a healthy high altitude climate which was then thought to be effective as a treatment.

In 1853 he passed the medical exams, the stateless refugee got a job in Davos as a county doctor, which was remote at the time.

He campaigned against the general belief that a Mediterranean climate was good for phthisis (the old name for tuberculosis) and began to conduct meteorological studies.

Spengler's treatment largely involved letting the climate work and supplemented this with a diet that included milk and moderate amounts of wine (particularly red Veltliner).

[2][3] Spengler married Elisabeth Ambühl, daughter of a pastry chef who had worked in St. Petersburg and the marriage required citizenship by showing assets of at least 2000 francs.