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)
new solutions in the field of plastic surgery, too. His work "Képző műtétek" ("Plastic Operations "), an illustrated atlas, (Fig. 61.) is exhibited here. The birth of the Hungarian medical press was also the result of his organizing activity since the Orvosi Tár edited by Bugát ceased to appear in 1849. He organized the National Council of Public Health, and became its first president. He described the conservative method of the treatment of tubercolotic bone and articular diseases. Objects of special interest displayed in the showcase refering to the life and work of Balassa are : the hand of Balassa carved by Ferenc Deák (Fig. 62.), hypodermic instruments made of "r-Z" glass, artery forceps and hooks, adjustabe rectoscope, chain-saw and several memorial plaques. On the panels we present the various diplomas of Balassa. 2. Lajos Markusovszky Another outstanding personality of the medical school of Pest beside Balassa was Lajos Markusovszky (1815-1893) (Fig. 63.). His career was determined already by the title of his thesis : "Az orvos, mint nevelő" (" The physician as educationalist") . He - as many other Hungarian medical students - studied in Vienna for two years and was a pupil of professor Wattmann. In Vienna he became a lifelong friend of Ignác Semmelweis. He returned to Pest-Buda in 1847 and became assistant to János Balassa who recognised his excellent qualities. Markusovszky tried the above mentioned "ether anaesthesia" first on himself and applied it on patients only afterwards, together with Balassa. Similar to Balassa, he took part in the War of Independence, and lectured on a "course for military physicians". Later they performed an operation on Görgey who had a heavy head wound and he also accompanied him to exile at Klagenfurt after the capitulation at Világos. His political activity cost him his job. Balassa then employed him as his private assistant. He had private praxis and became the private doctor of the Eötvös and Trefort families. The symphaty between patient and doctor developed into a close friendship. His wide intellectual ability, manifold talent and excellent qualities as organizer made him an indefatigable realizer of new ideas. He was the owner and editor of the Orvosi Hetilap (Medical Weekly) which was first published on 4 June 1857 and which has been the forum of the Hungarian medical society ever since. His name is also connected with the establishment of the Magyar Orvosi Könyvkiadó Társulat (Hungarian Medical Publishing Society) in 1863. It was Markusovszky who urged Semmelweis to publish his discovery. After 1867 the ministry of Eötvös enabled him to realize his programs as an organizer. First he was put in charge of medical training and later of all the university affairs. After the death of Eötvös in 1871 he continued to play an active role under the ministry of Trefort. Markusovszky modernized medical training, organized special faculties
