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)
G. Jeszenszky: Medical and Sanitary Conditions in Hungary as Seen by British Travellers, 1790—1848
ioo Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist . Artis Med. Suppl. 6.) the whole sixty years: they had found the country extremely cheap and could obtain everything: food, accomodation and services for trifles. But generally they did not have to bother even about these as they were everywhere received with the greatest hospitality by the most well-to-do magnates of the country. One letter of recommendation was enough to launch the visitor into a circle where he could not resist from passing from one hand into another, but even without such recommendations they could rely on the services of any landowner, country squire, priest or officer. It is not difficult to find the explanations of that hospitality. First, there were still very few travellers venturing into Hungary. One of them, William Hunter was right in remarking: "Indeed , in all countries, that are rarely visited by travellers, hospitality is a leading virtue ; and those few, who make their appearance, meet with a reception that is highly flattering and grateful to the heart."' The other reason was due to the peculiar position of England vis a vis the Austrian Empire during the whole period: the two countries were allies against Napoleon, and that recommended every Englishman to all officers and loyal notabilities. On the other hand, however, England was considered as the stronghold of liberties, a constitutional monarchy, which fact guaranteed her representatives a warm welcome in those wide circles where the whole spirit of reform (to a great extent generated by English examples and visits to that country) had its origin. The occasional English visitors were everywhere received and treated as Hungarian noblemen and enjoyed their privileges: they were exempted from paying tolls and taxes, could easily obtain the letter which ordered all peasants to put horses at their disposal for the prescribed low sum, and so on. All that did not prevent the visitors from noticing most if not all the ill effects of an antiquated social system, and travelling in the country revealed before them very clearly the contrast between the conditions of their hosts and the people. They did not only see how bad the roads were —maintained by peasants as part of their obligations —, that the inns were wretched with dirty rooms and uninviting beds which could be rendered usable only by the sheets and cushions carried by the travellers themselves, that food was rather scarce and unvaried, wine nearly always bad, but also the general position of the peasantry and the need for change in that respect. Due to their financial independence and the hospitality of their hosts they were not exposed to too great inconveniences and hardships but as they came from a more developed country their keen eye noticed much that was deficiant and outdated. Hunter's observations are relevant in this respect, too: Hungary is certainly one of the most fertile divisions of Europe. Indeed I know of none which yields, in such abundance, so great a variety of valuable productions. For its wine and corn, its cattle and fruits, its metal and salt, those most estimable of all commodities, it is peculiarly distinguished. Its climate is 7 William Hunter, Travels through France, Turkey, and Hungary, to Vienna in 1792. To which are Added, several Tours in Hungary in 1799 and 1X00. In a Series of Letters to his Sister in England. (3rd ed. London, 1803), 2 vols. (Hereafter cited as Hunter), II. pp. 250- 1.
