methylene blue. He received his Ph.D. in 1899 from the University of Helsinki, for the thesis Zur Kenntnis der Blutveränderungen nach Aderlässen ("Blood Changes after Venesection"). Career After the completion of his dissertation in 1899, Von Willebrand was appointed chief physician at a spa in Heinola, and he shifted his interest from hematology to applied physiology. From 1900 to 1906, he lectured anatomy and later physiology at the University of Helsinki. During this period, he researched thermotherapy, particularly the health effects of saunas, and phototherapy, and invented an apparatus for measuring the dermal excretion of carbon dioxide and water. Von Willebrand's interest in internal medicine outweighed his interest in balneology and physical therapy, however, and in 1907 he took up the position of chief physician at a municipal hospital in Helsinki. In 1908, he was appointed docent in internal medicine at the University of Helsinki. Concomitant with this appointment, he succeeded Schauman as head of the department of medicine at the Deaconess Hospital in Helsinki. He also took over the laboratory at the Deaconess Hospital, which was renowned for its hematological services. In this position, he studied metabolism, obesity and gout. In 1912, he developed a method for measuring ketone bodies in urine, and the following year discussed dietetic treatments for diabetes. In 1918, nearly two decades after his last paper of the sort, Von Willebrand resumed his publishing of hematologic works, releasing studies on aplastic, hypochromic and pernicious anaemia. He also published a study regarding heart valve conditions based on data from over 10,000 autopsies performed in Helsinki from 1867 to 1916, and was a pioneer in the use of insulin, describing in 1922 its use in the treatment of diabetic comas. In February 1924, he successfully brought a moribund patient out of a diabetic coma through the application of insulin, using some of the first batch of the hormone ever delivered to Finland. Von Willebrand remained at the University of Helsinki until 1930. He was physician-in-chief of the Deaconess Hospital from 1922 to 1931, and became honorary professor in 1930. He remained head of the Deaconess Hospital's department of medicine until his retirement in 1933. Von Willebrand continued to publish articles after his retirement. On his 75th birthday, he released his last paper, entitled En genetisk blodsykdom blant innbyggerne på Åland ("A genetic blood disease amongst the islanders of Åland"). Von Willebrand disease In April 1924, Von Willebrand