Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
III. Life in Vienna
48 SECOND TERM—THE DISCOVERY and obtained results hitherto unheard of, but Boer’s theories of the causation of puerperal fever, though different, were no advance on the unsatisfying principles of former generations. Still, in Great Britain devastating outbreaks of puerperal fever seldom occurred in the lying-in hospitals. Was it possible then that by observing and studying British methods and opinions Semmelweis might obtain light upon the heart-breaking mystery of puerperal fever? “In the winter of 1846-47 I employed my time in learning the English language with the object of spending the most of the time which I would have to wait until I could resume the post of assistant ... at the great lying-in hospital of Dublin; but in the end of February, 1847, Dr. Breit was nominated professor of midwifery at the University of Tübingen, and so, changing my plan of a professional tour, I went in the company of two of my friends on a visit to Venice before taking over the duties of Assistant.” The painful experience of the Vienna lying-in hospital had produced a depression of spirits and a feeling of discouragement, and a change of scene and occupation was required before the duties of ordinary assistant were resumed. SECOND TERM AS ASSISTANT. THE DISCOVERY. Death of Kolletschka. “On the 20th of March of the same year (1847), a few hours after my return to Vienna, I resumed with renewed energies the duties of the post of assistant in the First Obstetric Clinic, but I was soon shocked by the sad news that Professor Kolletschka, whom I held in the highest honour, had died in the meantime.” The following is the history of the case : Kolletschka, professor of medical jurisprudence, often performed post-mortem examinations in medico-legal cases with the assistance of his students. In the course of one such examination he received a punctured wound of the finger from the knife of one of the pupils. . . Professor Kolletschka thereupon became affected with lymphangitis, phlebitis
