Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 51-53. (Budapest, 1969)

TANULMÁNYOK - Végh Antal: Than Károly, a magyar tudományos kémia és az egyetemi kémiai oktatás megteremtője (angol nyelven)

the death of the latter Markusovszky'

s circle of friends, got in close touch with Endre Hőgyes, Kálmán Balogh, Frigyes Korányi, and Ferenc Fodor. On the 40th anniversary of his professorship looking back at his past colleagues he also mentioned the names of Balassa, Semmelweis and especially that of Markusovszky and spoke about his collaboration with the medical professors: " .. .This highly appreciated relationship increased my horiton, brought me into closer contact with the requirements of practical life, and greatly contributed to stimulate my activity ..[5], Béla Lengyel is quoted as saying, that in spite of the unhealthy conditions and primitive instruments at the institute in Újvilág Street, ,. the professor started to publish papers, very soon in the bulletin of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, later in the Természettudományi Közlöny (Journal of Natural Sciences) followed by his students' publications as well. Among inhuman circumstances the zest of Than captivated those around him and his willpower, which knew no hindrance, strengthened them" [6], In his rudimentarily equipped laboratory Than showed why the behaviour of the vapour of ammonium chloride does not follow the universal gas-laws, and introduced spectroscopy in Hungary. In the course of investigations connected with the latter he found rubidium in the ashes of beech and discovered carbonyl sulfide (COS) in 1867. That publication made his name known with the scientists of the West, too, and was rated by the Viennese Academy as the most important statement of the last four years. It was in the same institute that he began the systematic analysis of the Hungarian mineral waters. In the autumn of 1862 Than was appointed professor and in 1863 he recommended to the Arts' Faculty to reorganize the zoological, chemical and mineralogical institutes and to erect a new building for them. In 1866 he addressed a petition to the Lieutenancy (governing council seated in Buda) in which he described the deplorable position of chemical training. But he was given an ear only. After the Compromise, József Eötvös became Minister of Education, and he took Than's distinguished friend, Lajos Markusovszky, as his secretary. It is not unlikely that this choice was decisive when Eötvös fully endorsed Than's suggestions and gave priority to the establishment of a chemical institute when the new constructions for the university were started. Eötvös covered the costs and entrusted Than with the planning. Than's earlier activities guaranteed the success of the task: during his frequent foreign visits he had come to know the up-to-date institutes, the five years spent in a pharmacy laboratory at the start of his career developed his practical sense, on the whole he had a comprehensive theoretical knowledge combined with more than average will-power and organising talent. On the other hand he had no experienced architect, mechanical engineer, etc. at his disposal, for there had not taken place any similar construction in Hungary before. From planning to execution nearly everything was left to Than until the Institute was completed in 1869—71, in the middle of what to-day are called Trefort Gardens. (At present the building houses a part of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.) Than's health deteriorated as a result of the strain. The Institute was regarded as the most modern of its kind at that period, was often visited by foreigners and served