Niels Ryberg Finsen M.D.

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1903

Physician. Founder, phototherapy in dermatology. Lupus vulgaris treatment. Researched salt. Despite having Niemann-Pick disease, strong willed, persevering.

Denmark early education - Rector: "Niels is a very nice boy. His gifts are small; he’s devoid of energy." Cause: fagging for older pupils. Moved to Iceland school; succeeded despite not knowing language.

Nobel Prize Cash and Philanthropy

The Nobel Prize award ceremony was held in Stockholm on December 10, 1903. Finsen, having been chronically unwell was in a wheel chair at home. Innumerable people he knew were congratulating him on being awarded the Nobel Prize. At that time, Finsen announced that he would donate 50,000 crowns of the Prize money to the Finsen Institute. He would also donate 60,000 crowns to a sanatorium for heart and liver diseases which too he had founded.

Finsen's donations immediately lead to his two main donors also donating 50,000 crowns to the Finsen Institute.

Therefore, despite Finsen's poor health, the Prize helped spread Finsen's ideas and it helped his Finsen Institute.