Johann Lukas Boogers studied in Würzburg with Carl Caspar von Siebold. He moved to Vienna in 1771 where he became Magister in 1778. The surgeon Anton Josef Rechberger assigned Boogers to obstetrics and he soon worked at the maternity ward in Rechberger's St. Marxer Hospital. Boogers became surgeon of the Orphanage in 1784. He attracted the attention of the Emperor Joseph II who influenced him in 1785 to change surname from Boogers to Boër. Kaiser Joseph II arranged for Boër to make a study trip to Holland, England, France and Italy in 1785-88. Upon returning to Vienna he became Imperial Surgeon to the Emperor and in 1789 director of Vienna General Hospital's charity Maternity Ward. From 1789-1822 Boër was assigned the teaching post for practical instruction at the maternity ward. In 1808 he became Ordinary Professor. In 1794 Boër became doctor of medicine and surgery honoris causa at the University of Vienna. In 1817 he succeeded Rafael Johann Steidele as the teaching chair of theoretical obstetrics at the University of Vienna. In 1790 the wife of the later Emperor Franz II died during childbirth for which attempts were made to hold him responsible. He was cleared of accusations of any fault or negligence however, and regained the confidence of the Emperor Joseph II.
Significance and demise
Faithful to the philosophy and principles of his mentor Anton Josef Rechberger, Professor Boër represented the conservative trend in obstetrics for which he was an outstanding advocate. He strongly discouraged use of forceps and other instruments and advocated the practice of natural parturition. He did not draw blood or administered drugs to birth-giving women, instead he prescribed nutritious food, fresh air, and exercise. He is considered the founder of obstetrics at the University of Vienna and made it a contemporary centre of modern teachings. The trend Boër represented was eventually losing favour to an approach emphasizing active intervention by doctors. Opposition forced him to resign in 1822. He left the post discouraged of what was then regarded as an enormous mortality rate at the maternity clinic. He was succeeded by professor Johann Klein who introduced teachings based on the new field of pathological anatomy.
Private life
Johann Lukas Boër married Eleonora Jacquet in 1793. She was daughter of the actor Carl Jacquet and sister to actress Antonie Adamberger. Boër is buried in the Schmelzer Friedhof Cemetery in Vienna.
