Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 73-74. (Budapest, 1975)

KRÓNIKA

KRÓNIKA THE XXIV

th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE Budapest 25

th to 31

st August, 1974 Arranged by four distinguished institutions (the International Society of the History of Medicine, the Medical Department of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian Society for the History of Medicine and the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum, Library and Archives, Budapest) an impressive international meeting of medical historians took place in Hungary in the last week of August. The Congress had 424 participants from 32 countries, coming from five continents. Although the papers were read in one of the four official languages (English, French, German and Russian), one could hear groups talking in many other languages during the breaks. All this "didn't excite yet the frightening or depressing image of a perfect Babel", as a speaker emphasized in the closing session, quite on the contrary, it set an inspiring example for human goodwill bridging over both political barriers and communication difficulties. Thus it can certainly be said that one of the main aims of any international congress, i. e. the formation of personal contacts was satisfactorily achieved. An absorbing exchange of views could, of course, only develope in such scientific sessions where chairmen, speakers and other participants were capable of switching from one language to another quickly. 1, The Opening Session The Congress was officially opened by the Chairman Dr. Emil Schultheis?» Hungarian Minister of Health, President of the Hungarian Society for the History of Medicine on the 26

th August at 5,30 p. m. He explained the reason and importance of studying medical history. "Knowledge of the past teaches us one cardinal lesson, Dr. Schultheisz said, not to commit the common error of overestimating one's own times: with regard to ours, even despite the enormous, quite unparalleled progress made, especially in the field of technology, and on the other hand, not to underestimate earlier times. In other words, history teaches us to become critical and tolerant at the same time." After that the assembled guests were addressed by the President of the International Society of the History of Medicine Dr. F. N. L. Poynter (London), and also by Dr. E. Réti, the Coprésident of the Congress and of the Hungarian Society for the History of Medicine, Assistant Secretary General of the International