Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 60-61. (Budapest, 1971)
KISEBB KÖZLEMÉNYEK — ELŐADÁSOK - Kótay Pál: Százéves a vesesebészet (angol nyelven)
THE CENTENARY OF RENAL SURGERY by PÁL KÓTAY N ow that we are celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the birth of renal surgery, it is fitting that while paying homage to the outstanding personality of the great pioneer, Gustav Simon—the famed Heidelberg professor of surgery— we should also recall the "heroic" figure of that suffering workwoman, on whom the first successful renal operation has been performed; something which in that period constituted a most daring and desperate undertaking. With the introduction of narcosis, one of the greatest problems of surgery —the alleviation of pain—appears to be already solved by this time. Once in possession of this powerful weapon, the operating surgecn was more and mere willing to undertake increasingly difficult tasks, to assume greater risks and responsabilities. So, the innumerable achievements of a constantly developing technique were rapidly enlisted in the service of medical treatment. Aided by the scientific achievements of the period, more and more pathologic agents are unveiled, while the clinical aspect of the various diseases becomes more manifest and better-known, transforming them into a less fearful adversary. Semmelweis has already been dead for four years. Lister's trip to Leipzig is a veritable triumphal march; he is fêted as a true Savicur. At this time, however, the average human life expectancy is not more than thirty-five years. A hundred years ago, the University of Heidelberg—despite its magnificent traditions and reputation—had only a limited number of medical students. The old, antiquated hospital lying along the road leading to the castle, stood on the hillside. Here, one of the departments having eighty beds was headed by Gustav Simon, the famed professor of surgery. This drama, which lasted almost two years, took place among the antiquated walls of the hospital and finally resulted in the first successful kidney operation ever attempted. Gustav Simon was described by one of his contemporaries, as follows: "He is forty-two years old. He is of average stature, with a high forehead, thick moustache, dark, slightly bushy side-whiskers, strong arms and hands, which during the operation became visible from beneath his rolled up shirtsleeves which he always washed with the utmost care. He did this simply from an individual yearning for cleanliness, without having the faintest idea about the importance of antisepsis. There is no doubt that in Darmstadt he started his activities as a military surgeon and also as a physician of the poor. He has never felt any enthusiasm for big theories, as well as for the dead letter. He didn't show any outstanding knowledge in the various
