Palla Ákos szerk.: Az Országos Orvostörténeti Könyvtár közleményei 6-7. (Budapest, 1957)

Dr. BENCZE JÓZSEF: Az empirikus doktorkodásról és annak kéziratairól

SUMMARY Author offers evidence showing that in the period of from the 16th century till the second half of the 19th century many empirical healers had been active in Hungary. Most of these healers were neither quacks, nor mistics, but individuals who, relying upon personal experience or upon studies in natural history, were ready to help those in need. In those centuries only a few qualified physicians werked in Hungary. Th empirics were not only simple people, but there were also many priests, Catholic and Protestant, noblement among them. Also high priests were often treating patients. The observations, the empirical knowledge of methods efficient in curing diseases have been passed from the simple people to the nobles and reversed. A wealth of data is available to prove this. It is stressed that in those centuries it was a custom to make drugs at home, exchange them for others, to give advice concerning treatments in letters and by word. It is remarkable that most of the manuscripts dealing with the treatment of diseases were written by many generations, indicating that in certain families the information was passed from father to son. In many a case the books of reference (boo<ks on natural science, written in Latin, German or Polish) on which the empirics based their knowledge could be found. In the manuscripts, but even more so in the calendars so important at that time, many notes can be found as to the procedures to be employed in case disease or epidemics occurred among animals (mainly domestic). However, the manuscripts contain not only therapeutic measures, but also interesting observations. For example, in one of the hand-written books there is a remarkable description of how to keep, treat bees and what are the diseases of bees. In an other book it is described how to make dyes useful in the household, alongside other practical suggestions. .It is emphasized that the names of plants and of the diseases, as found in such manuscripts, are interesting for the linguist and folklorist. too. Finally, author states that the Hungarian empirics helped the people by giving the best advice they could, with good will. More than once they gave not only advice, but drugs, food, or even shelter and clothing to those coming from far away and suffering írom disease.