Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
VI. Publication or "Die Aetiologie"
SPREAD OF THE DOCTRINE 261 along with the minutes of the proceedings. In the accompanying letter he wrote: “You will see from this how many followers you have in the Far North, and how strongly the younger men support you. By that alone much is gained, for it is in their hands that the future lies.” Semmelweis contributed several articles to the Orvosi hetilap on the discussion in the St. Petersburg Medical Society. Bruck says the news from St. Petersburg had the happiest effect upon Semmelw’eis. It had a generally reposeful influence, and in discussions he adopted a milder tone than had been his wont for a long time past. But his writing on the subject of the Lehre was nearly at an end. That the subject was exhausted for the present time was proved by the “Open Letters” : the same controverted points were eternally raised : the same objections w hich he had disposed of times out of number were constantly thrust upon him as if they were fresh inspirations of his opponents. To answer them was a thankless and depressing task, and the emotional disturbance brought a weary, worn expression into his face, which caused much concern to his wife and intimate friends. So, after the series of St. Petersburg articles in the Medical Journal, he gave up all thought of further defending his principles, and consigned the whole subject to the care of his most devoted of friends, Markusovszky. But he still continued to contribute articles on gynaecological subjects with feverish activity, until the last; his contribution on Ovariotomy, remained unfinished in 1865. Spread of the Doctrine after the Death of Semmelweis. We shall consider for our present purpose all incidents in the controversy after the discussion at the St. Peters- burg Society and the correspondence and contributions arising out of that episode as belonging to the period after Semmelweis, for if he was still living he was
