Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 73-74. (Budapest, 1975)
KRÓNIKA
The subject-matter of the Section C has been complemented by a symposium arranged in the festive hall of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on the 28 th August, when the speakers discussed the relationship between clinical aspects, theory and physics in the medicine of the late 18 th century from several points of view. The introductory lecture ("The motives of retardation in medicine to follow the upswing of natural sciences at the end of 18 th century") was delivered by Dr. Sondervorst, professor for medical history at the University of Louvain. Afterwards Dr. W. Kaiser (Halle), Dr. L. Premuda (Padova), Dr. D. Tutzke (Berlin), Dr. D, Karasszon (Budapest) and Dr. F. Szabadváry (Budapest) rose to speak on the subject. This session was the only one where a simultaneous interpretation into four languages was provided. The presidium of the scientific sessions usually consisted of three eminent scholars, complementing each other both in knowledge of languages and in professional field of interest. In their ardous work, they were greatly helped by the secretaries of sessions. The participation rate of the sessions fluctuated between 20 and 100. This was not necessarily due to the varying interest in particular lectures, but it was impossible for the participants to attend more than one of the attractive opportunities at the same time. 3. Other Programmes Though the Organizing Committee appointed the 31 th August as a special day for visiting places of interest, such as Museums and Libraries, the guests already paid visits, virtually en masse, to the new or reconstructed exhibitions of the Semmelweis Museum, e. g. to the permanent exhibition entitled "Pictures from the past of the healing arts", the temporary exhibition "Medicina in nummis", the Pharmacy Museum "Golden Eagle" in the first days of the Congress. Many people were attracted by excursions organized for each morning, e. g. to the Castle Hill of Buda, to the Danube bend at Visegrád and to the Buda Hills. The evening and night hours also had their own programme. A presidential meeting of the International Society was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Poynter on the 27 th August. Dr, Antall, who is also the Deputy General Director of the Semmelweis Museum, Library and Archives, submitted a proposal on this occasion. He suggested that the medical historical institutions of various countries (university institutes, academies, museums, libraries, archives, editorial boards etc.) should create a special organisation within the International Society. In order to facilitate the necessary exchange of information, the "Semmelweis" together with the Editorial Board of the Communicationes de História Artis Medicináé, would gladly undertake the tasks of the organizing secretariat of this committee. After some discussion Dr. Antall was asked by the Presidential Bureau to present a detailed elaboration of the proposal for consideration. All participants of the Congress came together again at a second reception given to their honour in the really picturesque milieu of the National Galery on the 27 th August.
