Szemészet, 2001 (138. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2001-09-01 / 3. szám
Szemészet 138. évfolyam (2001) 121 A Debreceni Egyetem Orvos- és Egészségtudományi Centrum Szemklinikájának (igazgató: Berta András egyetemi tanár) közleménye The first ophthalmology department in Hungary - founded 200 years ago Magdolna Zajácz We should make clear that the statement in the title does not mean that no ophthalmology was practised in Hungary prior to 200 years ago. The curing of eye diseases, especially those with externally visible symptoms, had for long been attempted; not only by quack charlatans, but also by genuine doctors who had graduated from foreign universities. It is also recorded that ophthalmology was practised by prominent people, including kings, priests, and even some high-born ladies. But there were no eye-specialists, and no eye hospitals either. Eye surgeries were performed by various groups of ‘surgeons’, including army field-surgeons, barbers, herniotomists, lithotomists, horse-gelders, and even by executioners. Other eye diseases not treatable by surgery were mainly dealt with by the above-mentioned doctors who had studied at foreign universities. At the end of the 18th century, the professional and social rise of ophthalmology began, albeit at first only as a branch of general surgery. An important step was taken for example in 1783, when in the Habsburg Empire the former Guild of Surgeons and Barbers became separated into the two specialities, as had previously occurred elsewhere. Hungarian ophthalmology started to advance enormously in the second half of the 18th century. This was connected on the one hand with the rapid development of ophthalmology internationally, and, on the other with the political changes in the country. The Austrian rulers had to make concessions and introduce reforms in order to maintain their power here, and one such reform permitted the training of doctors in Hungary. The progress of ophthalmology accelerated once it had been considered as an independent branch of medicine. Joseph Jacob Plenck (1733-1807), Professor at the University of Pest, was succeeded by György Stáhly (1755- 1802), who in accordance with the practice of that age was appointed Professor of Surgery, Obstetrics and Ophthalmology, all combined. However, ophthalmology was his favourite subject. In 1801, two rooms at the University were designated for use by ophthalmology patients, as a result of his lobbying. And we can say that this six-bed ward, established 200 years ago, was the first ophthalmology department in Hungary. If we look at the development of medical disciplines in Hungary, we find that the development of ophthalmology was (from an ophthalmologist’s point of view) satisfactorily in the lead over other specialities. As examples, we may note that the first paediatric hospital was founded by Ágoston Schöpf-Mérei in 1839, while Móric Jakobovics started his series of lectures entitled: ‘Dermatopathologica et syphilidologia’ as late as in 1847. Most of the other branches of medicine in Hungary are younger than ophthalmology. And we know from the writings of Hans Slezak that the ‘establishment’ of ophthalmology itself did not occur earlier in Vienna than here. It was only in 1812 that, through the efforts of Georg Joseph Beer (whose institution can be regarded as the ‘germ-cell’ of European ophthalmology and whose disciples became the leading ophthalmologists of the time), an ophthalmology department and clinic was set up at the Wiener Allgemeines Krankenhaus. According to Slezak, Budapest was undoubtedly one step ahead of Vienna in the treatment of eye-patients in a special ophthalmology department. References 1. Bartók, I.: A magyar szemészet története (History of Hungarian Ophthalmology). Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1954 2. Birtalan, Gy.: Orvostörténelmi Közlemények. (Journal of Medical history). Supplementum 15-16, Budapest, 1968 3. Birtalan, Gy.: Orvostörténelmi egyetemi jegyzet (Notes on medical history for university students). Budapest, 1992, Chapter II 4. Bolányi, I., Palothás, В.: Táblázatok a Budapesti Orvostudományi Egyetem történetének fontosabb adatairól (Tabulation of the main events in the history of the Budapest Medical School). Communicationes ex bibliotheca historiae medicae hungarica, 21-22, 414-511, Budapest, 1961 5. Schulteisz, E.: Orvostörténelmi egyetemi jegyzet (Notes on medical history for university students). Budapest, 1992, Chapter I 6. Slezak, H.: Bécs és Budapest - az európai szemészet csírái (Vienna and Budapest: seed-bed of European ophthalmology). Szemészet, 136, 53-56, 1999 7. Zajácz, M.: Történelem szemorvosoknak (History for Ophthalmologists). ŐSZI, Budapest, 1993 8. Zajácz, M.: Ophthalmology in Hungary. SOE 97, Budapest, 1997 Address for correspondence: Dr. Zajácz Magdolna DEOEC, Szemészeti Klinika Nagyerdei krt. 98., H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary Magdolna Zajácz: The first ophthalmology department in Hungary - founded 200 years ago
