J. Antall szerk.: Medical history in Hungary 1972. Presented to the XXIII. International Congress of the History of Medicine / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 6. (Budapest, 1972)
M. Vida: State-Models (Utopias) and Sociology of Medicine
38 Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist. Artis Med. Suppl. 6.) graphic illustrations on the city-walls of "The City of the Sun" —were parallel to the medical information of our times. "The anatomical and physiological attainments developed faster in the 16th and in the 17th centuries, since the ancient world at any time, however this development did not manifest itself in medical practice and in hospital system "—states one of the well-informed writers on the matter. 9 2 Campanella assigned an important part to anatomist as a leader of an independent science, beside physician, which proves that he looked far into the future. The empiric view of Francis Bacon proceeded by the birth of empiric medicine hundred years. Furthermore, an interesting observation is, that exactly at the time of the rise of medicine —during the 17th and 18th centuries —the practical initiations of Humanists in the field of public health were driven back by public health were driven back by public education. Only the French Utopian socialists, under the influence of natural scientific view of French enlightenment placed medicine to its right place. Saint-Simon acknowledged physiology and anatomy as essential sciences and Owen with his practical common sense urged the solution of medical attention and industrial hygiene. If we take into consideration that Owen was nearly a contemporary of Johann Peter Frank (1745 — 1821), the pioneer "of medical surveillance", —public health social hygiene and sanitarian organization of today —than Owen's demand was especially progressive. At last the general observation, that the development of sciences takes place in mutual action and connection with each other it refers to —if only in an indirect manner —the formation of the theory and practice of medicine. General philanthropism, which influenced several Utopian ideas from Humanism, reminds of the metality of public health and hospital system of the Middle Ages. "During the centuries of the Middle Ages the concept of compulsory social welfare was born for the sake of sick persons" 9 3 which is asserted in nursing and support of elderly persons and often in care of the sick (Thomas More). The different hospitals, poorhouses and leprosariums of the Middle Ages —without medical assistance —created a relatively active and well-balanced sanitary system. And this constitutional philanthropism became the base of both of hospitals and the following development of public health and the enthusiasts of state-ideas were also lead by the same humanist and sociopolitical theories. 9 2 Vekerdi op. cit. 431 p. 9 3 Vekerdi op. cit. 430 p.
