Varga Benedek szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 147-148. (Budapest, 1994)

TANULMÁNYOK - ESSAYS - Antall József: Az orvostörténelem helyzete Magyarországon (magyar és angol nyelven)

the German Democratic Republic has a clear lead in medical historical scholarship, which is also reasoned by traditions and the communication channel of their common language with the Bundesrepublik. Though in Hungary the influence of the German culture played an important role in many areas, it was not in all cases the effects of northern or western Germany, but rather those of the Austrian Landes or Vienna. It came about at Vienna University, that according to the suggestion of the pragmatic Professor Skoda, would-be physicians were not required to write a dissertation from the middle of the 19th century any more. Since Skoda regarded these papers as mere compilations, unnecessary and time consuming activities a new system was introduced in which medical students received their title "Doctor" automatically, as they passed their exams. As a result in the territory of the whole Austro-Hungarian Monarchy medical students were not further required to write dissertations. After the Great War this tradition was kept by both Austria and Hungary, whereas other succession states (Czechoslovakia, Rumania and Yugoslavia) modified their regulations on French or British examples. The system of dissertations for the doctorandi though generally requires extra efforts from the staff of medical historical departments — as it is usually popular among students being not an experimental but theoretical subject — it can also guarantee the elaboration of minor problems, the continuity of researches and, as a supply, the adequate number of young scholars as well. Whereas now in Austria we can find one of the most famous institute of medical history at the Vienna University, which gives compulsory and optional lectures for medical students, at Hungarian universities the history of medicine is not even a subsidiary subject. In the Bundesrepublik, on the other hand, there are academic institutions, and some twenty-two university departments, which carry out an important educational role in medical history. There is no need to detail the importance of science history, or medical history in university courses. As one of the main bases for developing an integral view of one's profession — about the genesis of a branch of science at any rate — science history has become probably even more substantial now, in times of specialization. It could serve, as the most obvious connection between general learning and special knowledge, to limit the separation of social, and natural sciences and special branches thereof. Moreover, historical approach could be pedagogically and didactically beneficial alike, by providing a continuity between secondary and university education, and it can also strengthen emotional feelings for one's profession. Nevertheless, we have seen many a prestigious and eloquent declaration, sometimes theatrical carmen miserabile about these questions. Instead of criticizing the youth we should pay attention to a presentation of the long rung development of medicine and medical profession. Many Hungarian and western polls point out likewise that there is a public interest for historical subjects. III. After presenting this quite negative picture of academic and university activities on the field of medical history in Hungary, we can now have a look into the results — or I would say partial results — of this scholarship. There is no need to emphasize the importance of science and cultural history: it has again been realized in Hungary during the last years. What we can see now is a broadening of the spectrum of historical scholarship. After decades of ideological schematism cultural history — which had not been in high esteem for long — got back its reputation. There are certainly disputes about the extent of the subject. Unlike in the past when it overlapped almost everything that not belonged to political, social or economic affairs, now it has been narrowed down to the history of cultural and educational matters. Undoubtedly science history is fairly included even in these schedules. As a sign of the renewed interest a department in cultural history is being organized at the Faculty of Arts of the ELTE. According to these plans the new department is going to play a distinguished role in lecturing for students who read various subjects. As I have mentioned above, there is a committee on science and technical history set up within the network of the MTA, and even the histories of biology have been includ-