Private health clinic in Vienna IX, corner of the Mariannengasse and Pelikangasse, where many wealthy, well-known figures were treated and died. Schenker's health, in particular his diabetes, was managed there by the Director, Dr. Julian Halberstam, between 1922 and 1935, and Schenker died there in January 1935.

The Sanatorium

The sanatorium was founded by Dr. Heinrich Löw in Vienna's 2nd district (Leopoldstadt) in 1858, was continued in 1874 by his son Dr. Anton Loew, who in 1882 moved it to the 9th district (Alsergrund) at Mariannengasse 20, and who in the early 20th century developed it into the first Viennese clinic with surgical facilities, gradually enlarging it by taking over the surrounding houses as individual departments. Its nursing facilities were staffed by the Töchter des göttlichen Heilands. From 1907 it was led by Anton's daughter Gertrud Eisler von Terramare until its closure in 1938 by order of the Nazis. Those from the world of music who died there include Gustav Mahler in 1911, Emil Hertzka in 1932, and Schenker in 1935.

Sanatorium Löw and Schenker

Schenker attended the sanatorium numerous times between 1922 and 1934 by way of outpatient appointments at which he consulted Dr. Halberstam, with tests being taken by others. Schenker was admitted to the sanatorium as an in-patient in the early morning of Sunday January 13, 1935 for the administration of insulin, and died there at 1.30 a.m. the following day. A poignant account of Schenker's final illness and death is given by his wife in his diary, covering January 4 to 14, 1935.

The sister of Schenker's pupil Marianne Kahn, Trude Kahn, had a senior post at the sanatorium and was able on several occasions to act as a go-between for the Schenkers.

Correspondence

No correspondence between the sanatorium and Schenker survives, but Schenker's diary attests that Schenker and Halberstam corresponded frequently.

Sources

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