Antall József szerk.: Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 5. (Budapest, 1972)

LECTURIS SALUTEM Welcome to the visitor who enters the birthplace of Ignác Semmelweis, the home of the Museum, and takes this volume in hand. In this present publication we do not seem to give the reader a catalogue with a dry statistical record of the exhibits, but to compile a "museological reader a guide to the exhibition, first of all to inform the visitor with a coherent about the museum, and to help him through the exhibition halls. Furthermore

, it should fulfil the task of recalling to the visitors everything that they have seen - when reading it a new at a later date - thus reminding them of the fascinating relics of the past and making them acquainted with the past of museum affairs concerning medical and pharmaceutical history in Hungary, the history of Ignác Semmelweis''s birthplace, his life and work and the formation and activity of the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum, Library and Archives and the collections of its two departments. The Semmelweis House has become a house of symbols. It has been rebuilt from its ruins to become a symbol of commemoration and progress. Semmelweis''s personality radiates a symbolic guidance, a passionate searching spirit in favour of mankind wisdom and genius, an indomitable fight for truth, and a firm belief in its victory. It is the duty of all Hungarian physicians and pharmacists to keep and cultivate his memory. His life-work is the inheritence of everyone who is determined to serve the cause of public health. We present this volume - the result of the common efforts of our colleagues — in this spirit, and hope to have served a good cause. Emil Schultheisz