Antall József szerk.: Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 5. (Budapest, 1972)
Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts (Guide for the Exhibition)
XI. MEDICINE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY The spirit and scientific results of the Enlightenment did not vanish without leaving any trace behind. The revolution of scientific reasoning effected also the different branches of medicine. Healing activity was always considered as a science but it really became sicentific in the 19th century. 19th century medicine is characterized by the introduction of the results of the natural sciences into medicine which was possible due to the systematic development of chemistry and physics. The instrumental advances of medicine were extended : Jean Nicolas Corvisart (1755-1821) made a new translation of Leopold Auenbrugg er's work on percussion "Inventum novum" ("A new invention") published in 1761 but soon forgotten. Corvisart completed his translation with an extensive commantary based on his own experiences gained in 20 years and percussion came into common use. Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec (1781-1826) introduced the use of stethoscope, which has remained an essential instrument in internal examinations ever since. Microscope has become a basic instrument of the medical laboratory. The introduction of ether as an anaesthetic, the discovery of general anaesthesia, sterilization and haemostasis changed dramatically the aspects of surgical practice. The influence of the great physicians of the age was twofold : it affected university training and promoted the rise of the different "medical schools". The process of specialisation - lasting even today - started to accelerate also during the last century. Medical Activities in Hungary in the Age of Reforms The first achievement in the medical efforts of the Hungarian reform period (1825-1848) fighting for national independence and burgeouis development was the creation of a special Hungarian medical language. Until then medical and pharmaceutical terminology had been Latin or German, - the latter due to the politically dependent position. The undying merit of Pál Bugát (1793-1865) was the creation of Hungarian medical terminology. Together with Ferenç Toldy, the secretary-general of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and a famous man of letters, he published the "Magyar-Deák és Deák-Magyar Orvosi Szókönyv" (Hungarian-Latin and Latin-Hungarian Medical Dictionary) . His name is connected also with the edition of the "Orvosi Tár" ("Medical Magazine"), the first medical periodical in Hungarian language in 1831. The periodical which aimed to be a store-house of practical medicine arouse great interest. Later, between 1839-49 it was edited by Ferenc Flór (1809-1871) an ex-
