100 years of The Magic Mountain and tuberculosis today
100 years ago, Thomas Mann's novel "The Magic Mountain" was published, in which the protagonist provides profound insights into the everyday clinical life of a Swiss sanatorium. The topics addressed and the aspects of tuberculosis therapy are still highly relevant today. To mark this occasion, the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, together with the University of Heidelberg, the Saarland University Hospital and actors from the Mannheim State Theatre, invite you to an extraordinary and diverse program centered around the topic of lung diseases.
100 years of The Magic Mountain...
Inspired by a visit a sanatorium where his wife was being treated for a lung condition Thomas Mann wrote his world-famous novel "The Magic Mountain". It was published exactly 100 years ago, in 1924. The novel tells the story of the young Hans Castrop, who initially plans to visit his cousin, who is suffering from a lung disease, for a short stay at a sanatorium. However, his own illness forces him to extend his stay. During his time there, he becomes increasingly immersed into the lives of the patients and is gradually drawn into the isolated world of the sanatorium.
…… and tuberculosis today
Tuberculosis, formerly known as consumption, is a disease caused by bacteria that primarily affects the lungs in most cases. Approximately 10.6 million people contract tuberculosis each year (WHO). The infection is usually transmitted through droplet nuclei (aerosols). Even though Germany is a country with low incidence rates, an increase in infections has been observed since 2022. Currently, around 4,500 tuberculosis cases are registered annually in Germany (as of 2023). Tuberculosis infections requires medical treatment, typically involving a combination of medications, and the treatment can be quite lengthy. Tuberculosis bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance, which makes treatment more challenging. (RKI.de, Infektionsschutz.de)
Venue with history
As early as 1899, the Rohrbach Castle (Rohrbacher Schlösschen), built around 1770 as a hunting lodge, was used as a convalescent home. Over the years, it evolved from a tuberculosis hospital into a modern centre for the treatment of lung diseases. The building, designed in the early classical style, has a long history of aristocratic residents and is surrounded by a picturesque English-style garden. The event “100 years of the Magic Mountain and tuberculosis today” in this historic building creates an impressive connection between the past and the present. Beyond this event, the Rohrbach Castle permanently houses a medical-historical tuberculosis museum, the only one of its kind in Germany, which vividly traces the development of tuberculosis diseases and therapies. The castle located at Parkstrasse can be reached by public transport with tram 24 (towards Leimen), the nearest stop is "Ortenauer Strasse".
The event program
The diverse program at the 30th October begins at 5:30 p.m. with a welcome from Prof. Claudia Denkinger (University of Heidelberg), Prof. Franziska Trudzinski (Thoraxklinik) and Franziska Betz (National Theater Mannheim), followed by a musical interlude and readings from Thomas Mann's novel "The Magic Mountain". The readings will be accompanied by actors from the National Theatre Mannheim. Afterward, aspects of tuberculosis and treatment options will be presented, using current patient cases from the Thoraxklinik. The event will conclude with guided tours of the Tuberculosis Museum and theme-based cocktails. You can find the full program here.