Horváth Attila – Bánkuti Imre – H. Tóth Elvira szerk.: Cumania 3. Historia (Bács-Kiskun Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei, Kecskemét, 1975)

Lóránd N.: Adatok Bács-Kiskun megye gyógyszertári hálózatának kialakulásáról és neves gyógyszerészeiről

could be found rarely, and the few who had got a good name were expropriated by the barons and kept in their courts. The noblemen employed own physicians and own chemists. Such a physician-inordinary was András Hermann in the 18th centyry. He was the son of a chemist in Besztercebánya, received his certificate at Halle University in 1717, and got in the court of Csáky, the Cardinal of Kalocsa. Several fellow-countrymen did studies abroad at that time for it was nearly impossible to reach a higher scientific degree at home. It is proved among others by the petition of Pál Matolch, the chemist (his petition can be found in the Urban Archive of Kecskemét) — in which he asked the urban council for some financial help in his studies abroad. We can find financial help in other towns, too — because if the studying chemist-, or physician-candidates were helped in getting their certificate in this way, after their return they were forced to settle down and to have a practice in the very town that had helped them. The first pharmacy of Kecskemét was established by György Vághy, a physician in 1748. He employed Antal Falt, the chemist as a provisor whose duty was to look after the physician's home-pharmacy. Antal Falt had got his certificate also abroad — in Brno in the year 1740. In the sixties of the 19th century Károly Handtel was the most outstanding chemist-character in Kecskemét. He started a movement against charlatanism and free selling of secret drugs, he completed the Public Health Bill of 1866 by an own plan, he was at the Vienna Court as a delegate in order to make to so-called „real right" of Hungary's pharmacies admitted. It means that the pharmacies can be inherited, sold or hired out after the death of their owners: this was a gérerai custom at that time all over the other parts of the Monarchy. The other, countywide significant chemist of Kecskemét was Zsigmond Katona who was one of the most enthusiastic animators and warriors in utilization of the quick ground — beside his original profession. He organized the Vineyard Cooperative of Helvetia, and established the settlement „Katonatelep" (named after him), the viticultural, experimental and researching centre which has got a world-fame since that time. In 1872 he organized a highly significant exhibition entitled „National Industrial Show", and the took an important part in the public life of the town as well. While speaking about the other pharmacies of the county the author mentions the circumstances taking place at about the establishment of the pharmacy in question, he does his best in clearing the date of foundation, the founder's name or the pharmacies title by the search of the most authentic sources —- if some data were unambiguous. He gives informations also on the biography and activity of some important chemists in the county. He introduces us Vilmos Czurda from Kiskunhalas who planned the analysis and utilization of the SaltLake at Kiskunhalas, and besides he produced an ascorbic acid preparation sold under the name „Essence of green pepper". We can mention the name of László Lárencz from Jánoshalma who had worked in the institute of the world-famous Kossuth-prize winner, Dr. Albert Szentgyörgyi and had had a part in the invention of Vitamin С before he became the leader of the pharmacy at Jánoshalma. At last the author discusses the fact that sometimes at villages having several pharmacies — some of them were closed, taken over by the state and founded again at such backward settlements where the inhabitants had had to lay up medicines from far away and with much circumstance. If — beside these — we take into consideration the so-called „homepharmacies" (their number is over 50) maintained by the physicians of the county — which serve for the better medical attendance at regional centres, cooperatives, state farms or factories — we dare say that the pharmaceutical supply of the population, the public health and our general sanitary culture shows quite a quick development in the social point of view

T as well. 179