Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 87-88. (Budapest, 1979)

TANULMÁNYOK - Czeizel, Endre: A heredodegeneraciós tan történeti értékelése (angol nyelven)

A HISTORICAL EVALUATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF HEREDODEGENERATION* ANDREW CZEIZEL Cjreat efforts are being made in order to improve the paralytic state of human genetics in Hungary caused by forced eugenics, later by "lisenkoism", over nearly three decades. In its course we size up not only the tasks of the present and the outlooks of the future but the achievements of the past, too. This retrospection has convinced us that the most far-reaching spiritual enterprise of human genetics in Hungary had been so far the elaboration of the so-called doctrine of heredodegeneration. The development of the doctrine of heredodegeneration in Hungary is essentially connected with the names of three outstanding physicians being in no direct contact with each other. I. ERNŐ JENDRASSIK Ernő Jendrassik (fig. 1.) came of a very talented family that proved its excellency in many different fields. Ernő's father was professor of theoretical medicine in Kolozsvár (now CIuj of Romania), later professor of physiology in Budapest. Consequently Ernő could learn first-hand and carefully guided by his father, from the most famous Hungarian and foreign masters. For a year he also worked at J. M. Charcot's side, neurologist of legendary fame of the age. (It happened during this period that he wrote a prize work together with P. Marie entitled "Contributions á l'étude de l'hémiatrophie cérébrale par sclérose lobaire". It was there that he gained self-confidence; in a letter to his parents he wrote the following: "From day to day I trust more in my brain — it is a good machine!") The main purpose of his life got shape also this time, that is an aspiration "towards a goal in the invisibly remote distance, the knowledge of the whys and wherefores"

. Within internal medicine neurology is becoming more and more his main field of interest. His scientific activity is extensive and acknowledged, it is enough to refer to his works on reflex function. (He was 24 when his first publication in this subject, much quoted even nowadays, appeared.) The clinical analysis of cases of nervous and muscular diseases lead him to general statements which gradually establish the development of a coherent conception. (It is to be emphasized that he aimed not at setting up new theories but at statements based on experience that are directly profitable in healing. This is reflected in his * Magyar nyelven megjelent: Orvosi Hetilap 120 (1979) 722., 840., 963.