Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
V. Life in Buda-Pesth
190 TARNIER * and in the Maternité. “ But,” says Pinard,* ‘‘let us acknowledge with infinite sadness that it was the routine tradition to generally ignore the discovery of Semmelweis.” It is however hardly possible to believe that an earnest student and investigator like Tarnier, hearing the sneers about Semmelweis even in the Academy discussion, would not inquire independently and receive some knowledge and inspiration. Tarnier then, without knowing exactly about the Semmelweis discovery, worked along the same lines, in the same scientific spirit and inspired by the same humane desires and aspirations, and he ultimately reached practically the same conclusions. His propositions stated in the Thesis were: i. Puerperal fever is contagious. 2. Puerperal fever is the result of blood- poisoning. 3. In place of the term puerperal fever we would prefer that of Septicémie puerperale. 4. It is a veritable poisoning comparable to that of the dissecting room. 5. When the poisoning is violent death follows rapidly and the poison leaves no traces behind it. 6. That there is an alteration in the blood cannot be doubted, but in what it consists it is impossible to say. The thesis concludes as follows: ‘‘We have not invented the facts; we have not manipulated them to support a preconceived idea; we have discussed them with impartiality according to the principles of pathology, and it is with sincerity and conviction that we maintain that puerperal fever is contagious.” By the term ‘‘contagious” Tarnier obviously means the same as the Uebertragbarkeit of Semmelweis, so that the conclusions are practically identical. Animated with this sincerity and conviction Tarnier went to work with the ardour of an apostle, and with the tenacity and courage which give rise to high hopes and produce great results. On the very day in July, 1858, on which the great debate on Puerperal Fever concluded Tarnier published * Annales de Gynécologie et d’Obstetrique. January, 1909. I
