Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 18-19. (Budapest, 2000)
Semmelweis's Birthplace - the Home of the Museum
The great discovery The Allgemeines Krankenhaus in Vienna was built during the reign of Emperor Joseph II (1780-1790). Its Obstetric Clinic had been already established in the first year of the opening of the hospital in 1784. In four decades the mortality rate of labouring women was as low as 1.25 percent. But in the twenties of the 19th century increased considerably. The situation did not change even after the lying-in maternity ward of the hospital had been divided into two separate clinics. Professor Klein held on the post of the director of the 1st Clinic, while Professor Bartsch was appointed head of the 2nd Clinic. A definite change was noticeable, however, from 1840, when a new regulation was created, which separated the instruction of medical students from that of the students of midwifery. The 1st Clinic was made available for medical students only, whereas the 2nd Clinic was open only to midwife students. Between 1841 and 1846 the maternal death rate in the students' hard (i.e. in the 1st Clinic) was 9.92% (1,869 died out of 20,042) as compared with 3.38% ( 691 out of 17,791) in the midwifes' ward (2nd Clinic). The most dreadful outbreak ravaged between October 1841 and May 1843. There had been months (October 1842) when as much as 29.3% of all parturients had died in child-bed fever, before being able to enjoy maternal joys. The rate of maternal mortality and the remarkable difference between the two clinics arose the interest of officials, too. Commissions were sent out for investigation, but without producing any result. Puerperal fever was considered a contagious disease and was treated as an epidemic. Several theories were created about its cause: the hospital was overcrowded, the manner of attendance was rude, etc. Fears from the dangers of labouring in hospital and the difference between the two clinics soon spread over in Vienna. Puerperal fever scarcely occurred among women who gave birth to children at home or even among the worst conditions on the outskirts. Women who was sent to the 1st Clinic did their utmost to be admitted to the clinic of Professor Bartsch. But, of course, it could not have been always fulfilled. Those unmarried mothers who were forced to deliver their babies in hospital in order to receive free medical assistance and hospital for their children, had little chance to make their choice. The birth rate of illegitimate children in the cities of Europe, including those of the Monarchy, was rather high, especially where soldiers were stationing. Puerperal fever took its victims and the cause of the disease had not been solved. Semmelweis was a happy, carefree young student when arrived in Vienna. His sensitive soul, humanism, however, was greatly perturbed and deeply moved by the ravages of puerperal fever. He could not reconcile himself to the inescap-able facts of the mortality rate or the established old and recent explanations. Day after day he saw mothers in great joy and then dying, and was unable to save them. Later he himself described the history of his discovery. In his tormented state of mind 'everything seemed problematic everything was unclear , everything was du18
