Sinclair, Sir William J.: Semmelweis. His Life and his Doctrine (Manchester, 1909)
IV. Spread of the Doctrine During the Vienna Period
THE REVOLUTION 71 that the “Academic Legion ’’ was formed, consisting of professors and students, medical practitioners and lawyers. Semmelweis and other assistants in the various departments of the General Hospital enrolled themselves in this revolutionary force, and among these Semmelweis was considered one of the most active and enthusiastic champions of freedom. He was one of the contingent of Viennese enthusiasts who went out to meet the Hungarians who under the leadership of Kossuth were advancing upon Vienna to aid the revolution in Lower Austria, but had to retire in the face of a stronger force of Imperial troops. Semmelweis has been described as sticking close to his professional duties in spite of all distractions, but we may take the liberty of assuming that he found in the early crisis little time for post-mortem examinations, and he would not be much troubled with medical students bringing cadaveric poison to the labour-room of the First Clinic. It was in this month of March, 1848, that for the first time in the history of the Lying-in Hospital, there was not a single death from puerperal fever, and no patient even sickened of the malady. Semmelweis refers evidently with much satisfaction to the record of March, but he does not claim in support of his doctrine, as he might well have done, that the patients were left almost entirely to chance and the care of the head-midwife. Although Metternich had taken refuge in England, the reactionary bureaucracy remained at the head of affairs, and although they appeared to make generous concessions in Vienna, as they had done in Milan and Venice, they were only waiting their time. The troubles lasted with slight intermissions for the whole year. Hebra, who had also joined in the revolution, said that Semmelweis came to attend Frau Hebra in her confinement wearing the uniform of the “Legion.” We can only try to imagine the feelings of an old conservative Höfling like Professor Klein, when he first met his assistant in the Clinic dressed in the stylish uniform of the revolutionary “Legion,” the broad hat with waving
