HADRA, BERTHOLD ERNEST (1842–1903). Berthold Ernest Hadra, physician and surgeon, was born near Breslau, Prussia (now Wroc_aw, Poland) on November 8, 1842. He obtained his medical education from the universities of Breslau and Berlin; he received his medical degree from Berlin University in 1866 and passed the state examination in 1867. He served in the Prussian army as an assistant surgeon during the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 and remained in army service for a number of years. He moved to Texas in 1872 and practiced medicine in San Antonio, Galveston, and Austin. While in Texas he married Ida Weisselberg (see HADRA, IDA WEISSELBERG). After her death he married her sister Emma.

Hadra served as a health officer at San Antonio and was a member of the University of Texas Board of Regents. He was appointed chairman of surgery at Texas Medical College at Galveston in 1888 and helped to transform that institution into what is now known as the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He received international respect for his pioneer work in the fields of surgery and gynecology. Known as one of the premier authorities on surgical practices, Hadra revolutionized gynecological and spinal surgery techniques. He wrote a number of medical books and journal articles that were published nationwide and abroad. His most famous articles include "The Surgical Treatment of Epilepsy" and "Injuries of the Pelvic Floor." Hadra's books include The Public and the Doctor (1902), which stresses the importance of the relationship between patient and doctor, and Lesions of the Vagina and Pelvic Floor (1888), which describes an operation for the repair of injuries to the pelvic floor from childbirth. Hadra was a president of the Texas State Medical Association (now the Texas Medical Associationqv) and was the first vice president of the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association. He was a member of the American Medical Association, the Travis County Medical Association, the West Texas District Medical Association, and the Galveston Medical Club. At the time of his death he was a member of the faculty at Southwestern University at Dallas. He died on July 12, 1903, in Dallas and was survived by his wife and five children. He was buried in Austin.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Lewis E. Daniell, Types of Successful Men in Texas (Austin: Von Boeckmann, 1890). George Plunkett [Mrs. S. C.] Red, The Medicine Man in Texas (Houston, 1930). Texas State Journal of Medicine, January 1906. Vertical Files, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Joseph R. Sanchez

From the Handbook of Texas Online
____________________________________________________________

Dr. Berthold Ernest Hadra, aged 59, one of the best known men in medical circles in the State, was found dead in his office at Elm and Akard streets last night, supposedly from
heart trouble. He was found by his son, James Hadra, about 10 o'clock, seated in his office chair, with his head bent forward and his hands hanging beside him. Near him on the table stood his solutions and implements, place for urposes of an operation he purposed to make in the evening, and which he may have made before his death. Dr. Hadra, it is stated by his son, had been complaining of heart trouble for some time, and exercised great care in all his movements lest he should cause the giving way of an
aneurism of the large artery leading to the heart, a trouble he himself had diagnosed. It is supposed that the giving way he feared caused his death. His son stated that his father had left his home at 115 Browder street about 4 o'clock, for the purpose of performing an operation, and that as he failed to return, the family was alarmed and he
had gone to his office to look after him. When he entered he found his father dead in his chair, and at once called in Dr. Fisher, who was in an office of the building. Dr. Hadra was born in Breslau, Germany, and would have been 59 years of age on Nov. 8 next, had he lived. He came to Texas in 1875 after having studied his profession in Breslau, graduated at Berlin, and having served as surgeon in the German army. . . . He leaves a wife, who was Miss Emma Weisenburg, three sons and two daughters -- Dr. Fred Hadra, who is a surgeon in the United States Army, and located at San Felipe, La.; Ernest Hadra of Dallas, James Hadra of Dallas, Mrs. August Eyssell of Kansas City, and Miss Ida Hadra of this city. . . . Dallas Morning News, July 13, 1903
____________________________________________________________
The remains of the late Dr. B.E. Hadra were taken to Austin over the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad last night, to be buried beside relatives interred in the burial ground at
that place. Dr. Hadra resided in Austin a number of years, where he was well known and liked. There were no religious services in this city, the funeral service proper occuring
at Austin. The funeral will take place from the residence of ex-senator Walter Tips, a long-time friend. James Hadra, a son, was in Austin yesterday, arranging for the funeral.
At 6 o'clock a large number of the physicians of this city assembled at the home of their late colaborer and heard Dr. H.K. Leake make a brief address on the work accomplished by
Dr. Hadra. The speaker told of Dr. Hadra's study and research and the consequent benefits to the medical profession and mankind. The following acted as pall-bearers in taking the remains from the Hadra home to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas depot: Drs Beddoe, Leake, Armstrong and Whitis, Messrs. A. Schneider and T. Kempster. Dr. Fred Hadra of the regular army arrived from San Felipe, La., where he is stationed, and will be present at his father's funeral in Austin, as will the widow, also a daughter, Mrs. Eysell of Kansas City, Mo., another son, Earnest Hadra, and a cousin, Miss Emy Braun, of San Antonio, who has been visiting the family for some time. The train reaching Austin on time, the funeral will occur at 8:30 o'clock this morning. The address delivered by Dr. H.K. Leake was as follows: . . . Dallas Morning News, July 15, 1903

Courtesy of BeNotForgot