Despite the fact that there are several newer dictionaries of Written Mongolian, such as Lessing 1960, and BAMRS 2001-02, Schmidt's dictionary, the first of its kind, remains an important contribution to the study of the language and continues to be consulted by specialists. It is particularly valuable to historical linguists, because being published in 1835 it does not include any of the neologisms created in the twentieth century. In 1827, Schmidt was conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Rostock; he published he most important work, including his Mongolian Grammar (1831), between 1829 and 1842 when he developed a double cataract which severely impeded further research and writing.