Kapronczay Károly szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 194-195. (Budapest, 2006)

TANULMÁNYOK — ARTICLES - ELEK, Gábor - MÜLLER, Miklós: Ervin Bauer as pathologist

sectioning device) although I ordered it the first week after my arrival here, " (December 21, 1915, Rolla 119). From Kaffka's letter to the editor Fenyő "...I have to sell this "Anthill" (Kaffka 1917) as a book, too, if they like it at Nyugat, because I wish to buy a really good Zeiss microscope for my husband; it is a shame how he struggles with the abominable "military issue" instruments. It is a wonder that he gets somewhere. This week I plan to write (emphasis by the authors) a microphotographie appartus, too (a brief piece for the magazine Világ). It is not expensive" (October 30, 1916; Rolla 1983, 144). Margit'

s efforts continued almost until the end of the war; "I am coming from Reichert. It is not easy to get a microtome even from Vienna. They produce only a few therefore they sell only what they already have, because that is necessary to get more metal again. (They have) one here, I looked at it carefully. It is much smaller than the one at Hollos, but he said, that it is an excellent instrument. ...with all accessories it costs less than 700, and the least expensive ready made dress is more than 1000. They have as many knives as you need. I definitely will buy it, if it suits you. " (between October 15-20, 1918; Rolla 1983, 182-83). Bauer took the new microtome to Temesvár late October, was very pleased with it but he had little time left there to use it. Much of Bauer's work in Temesvár was devoted to routine dissections and histopathology. We have no information on the number of autopsies performed by him but his case load in Temesvár must have been large. „ I have much material at my disposal. I can use it independently and without restriction thus I learn a lot. If I find enough free time, perhaps I will be able to work for myself as well". (December 21, 1915, Rolla 1983, 1 19). Bauer did not present a survey of the results of these activities. From the beginning of the great flu pandemic of 1918 the couple became very preoccupied with it. Their letters from the second half of this year are full with mutual warnings. Unfortunately none of the precautions taken could prevent Margit's sudden death. From letters to his wife: "But is seems that (the epidemic) seems to abate in Pest, may God give this. In any case, take good care of yourself. " (undated, Országos Széchényi Könyvtár Levelestár). The epidemic gave Bauer much work in Temesvár, too: „...the autopsies are rather distracting. The Spanish flu will not lead to new results, because - as I mentioned it before - the severe and letal symptoms are not caused by the pathogen itself but by the pyogenic organisms producing the accompanying sepsis: nothing new here: the question is why do such virulent pyogens accompany the pathogen just in this epidemic. This is, however, an essentially bacteriological question, which the bacteriologists cannot answer. Honestly, this question does not interest me" (undated, Országos Széchényi Könyvtár Levelestár). After the collapse of the war effort, Bauer and Kaffka moved from Temesvár to Budapest, where Bauer was demobilized. He tried to find a position in civilian life. Already in the summer of 1918 he started negotiating with Tibor Péterfi, who was to be appointed to the Pathology Chair of the Pozsony (now Bratislava, Slovakia) University then being organized. This university never became a reality and Péterfi had to move on to Germany, England, Denmark and finally to Turkey (Namal and Honti 2004). While trying to find a position in Budapest, Bauer focused on theoretical biology. „/ do not mind if he will spend finally a few months on his biology working at home. He is passionate about this. Finding an university position in these troubled times is unlikely to happen. The assitant professorship in Pozsony was all settled, but now Pozsony became doubtful... I try to