Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 81. (Budapest, 1977)

SZEMLE Könyvekről - Zalai K.: A Magyar Gyógyszerészeti Társaság ötven éve (1924—1974)

and postgraduate lectures, various courses, congresses, conferences, symposiums, have been regularly organized. In addition to the Society has been concerned with the edition of professional journals, the publishing of professional books. Last but not least its important task is to invite professional tenders and lecturers competitions. In the course of the last 50 years about 8000 scientific and refresher lectures were sponsored by the Society. These had been of high importance particularly before the creation of the Central Commission of Pharmacy Postgraduate Training (1939) and befor the regular activities of the Institute for the Postgraduate Training of Doctors started (1956). Prior to World War II the position of the Society did not allow yet to organize scientific congresses. The first congress was held in 1954. During the last twenty years six further largescale scientific congresses were organized by the Society. The number of conferences and symposiums, taking place since 1960 is more than 100. The initiation of publishing a scientific professional paper is due to Dr. Pál Lipták. He was the originator and the editor of the first scientific periodical "Communications of the Hungarian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences". The successor of it has been "Acta Pharmaceutica Hungarica". In the period from 1946 to 1956 another professional paper "A Gyógyszerész" (The Pharmacist), achieved particular importance. In 1957 it was followed by "Gyógyszerészet" (Pharmacy) which has been particularly concerned with postgraduate education and with recording of professional social events. A serial publication appears under the title "Diary for Pharmacy History". Out of its own publications the Society supports the issue of "Documentation Review for Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy". An important field of the Society's activities lies in the publication of professional books. 14 books and 28 pamphlets were published as yet. The importance of this is stressed by the fact that before World War II professional books of scientific value had been issued in Hungary in a rather low number. In order to encourage scientific work the Society undertakes regular appointments for competition and the awarding of the most valuable works. With a similar intention the Society has initiated since 1965 every year the appointment for the lecturers' competition named after Mátyás Rozsnyay. The aim of this special competition ha been to give impetus to young practising pharmacists to enter into research work. On Dr. Ragettli's initiative this special type ot competition has taken on a nation-wide character for the last 10 years. For an operative scientific work international contacts are indispensable. Recognizing the importances of this fact the Society appointed during the last 50 years 23 foreigners as honorary members and 4 ones as corresponding members. The appreciation of the scientific and social activities of Hungarian colleagues has been provided by awarding of commemorative medals, prize medals and plaquettes. In the course of 50 years the Society originated 12 commemorative medals and plaquettes. Medals devoted to the commemoration of Béla Lengyel, Endre Deér, Zsigmond Jakabházy, Mátyás Rozsnyay, Endre Kazay, Károly Than, Gedeon Richter, Elemér Schulek, József Ernyey, Commemoration Medals for the 50th Anniversary. As a total about 300 persons were rewarded or honoured with these medals and plaquettes respectively.