Palla Ákos szerk.: Az Országos Orvostörténeti Könyvtár közleményei 29. (Budapest, 1963)

Dr. Harangby László: Mecsnyikov munkássága és jelentősége az orvostudományban

haps the oligarchy of the scientific world which had never forgotten and did not forget in the case of Menchikov either, if the genius of a scientist had reached the top of scientific hierarchy by taking more rungs at once. Or the legion of his scientific opponents who were brought to a stop by him on the doorstep of complete success were forced to struggle with him and who - though they had to put up with him for outer appearance - remained his enemies in their inner souls.. In this respect Mechnikov s fate is like that of those who left alone, have to win their scientific appreciation by their own efforts. Such are prised only by the soft voiced appreciation avoiding all sensation of Kovelevszkiy, Pasteur, Roux and similar real great men and are glorified only by their enthusiastic pupils whose enraptured opinion is not taken seriously by anybody. On the other hand, they are all the more abused by the so-called „pushing" scientists who are unable to forgive anybody reaching in spite of all the fighting what they consider as their heritage or at that they have arrived by the pushing methods. In vain did Mechnikov travell to Marburg in the company of Roux to the christening of Behrings first son, and in vain did the great opponents shake hands above the cradle; the petty-minded adversaries still kept on throwing mud. It is a commonplace truth that, good is given credit but seldom, and wrong is get always his credit, and that public opinion remembers much better a general pejorative opinion than a good one. The opprobious insults thrown at Mechnikov can be explained not only by the fact that his ideological and scientific opponents-if unable to conquere him-had tried at least to defame his personality and character, but can be understood by other factors as well. Mechnikov profoundly scorned any scientific activity prompted by the thurst of gain, scientific results to be changed for cash; and thus those who were running after money had to oppress him, if for no other thing, but for their self-defence. And at last, within all this, Mechnikov was too utterly and openly human in his virtues and faults and no one can see in others eternal human qualities, who considers themselves superhuman being, based upon their ignorance wrapped in self conceit. Mechnikov had been dead by now nearly 50 years (47) and we can see his human greatness and scientific importance ever clearer and