Forgó Géza: A Csanádvármegyei Szent István Közkórház története. A Makói Múzeum Füzetei 109. (Makó, 2010)

Képek

The publication summarizes the history of Saint Stephen Hospital in Csanád country The institution was established in 1842, after being opposed by János Meskó, Dean of medicine. It was maintained by Csanád County. Because of the failure of the revolution of 1848-49 the building was opened to the public in 1865, in Makó. At first, it was operated by two doctors and had 80 beds available. From the year 1872, under the direction of Dezső Brotvás, the number of patients increased up to 47 a day, and the total number of days spent in the hospital increased up to 15,000-17,000. The doctors were dealing with epidemics and locomotor disorders and they performed 50-60 operations annually. In 1876 the operation of hospitals was regulated by the XIV. Act of Public Health. The new law of health was considered quite modern, even preceding some western countries. No operative changes were necessary in the county hospital since it already complied with the requirements of the new law. From 1893 the institution was directed by Lajos Dózsa. Owing to the continuous increase of patients presenting a new need for beds the building a larger hospital was required. The modern hospital, which still operates nowadays, opened in 1906 with 185 beds, and the doctors were mainly treating internal pathological diseases. The new era required establishing new wards and employing specialists. From 1913 the hospital was directed by the surgeon Vilmos Uray, the new dean of medicine. The First World War brought no considerable progress. The director himself was captured by the Russian army and he escaped only in spring, 1920. The hospital demonstrated a slow development in 1920s and 1930s. The number of patients continuously increased: 2,299 patients were admitted in 1925 and the total number of days spent in the hospital rose to 54,971 a year. These statistics correlated with the statistics of other European countries. In 1920s and 1930s doctors tried to treat more and more patients and the tried to lower the number of days the patients had to be hospitalized by increasing the efficiency. In Germany, the average number of days a patient spent in the hospital was between 20-30 days, while in Makó it was 23.9 days. Also, director Vilmos Uray invited highly-qualified specialists and instituted new wards. The ward of internal diseases, gynaecology and maternity, otolaryngology, a surgical department, ophthalmology, dermatology and the ward of venereal diseases and the children's division were opened. The building was extended and was capable to admit 250 patients. By 1944, due to the Second World War, the hospital was in a difficult situation. Its doctors were drafted as medical personnel and the medicine and food supplies were scarce. In 1945 Sámuel Dióssziágyi became the director but he soon resigned in 1950. With Csanád County having been changed to Csongrád County in 1950, the hospital has operated as a town medical institution ever since. 93