Palla Ákos szerk.: Az Országos Orvostörténeti Könyvtár közleményei 10-11. (Budapest, 1958)

carrying out an exemplary and self-sacrificing work in their circle wihether rural district, factory, school, welfare institute, polyclindcal hospital with special consultation, university, scientific institute or any other field of public hygiene, and who are considered by the worker-peasant power as worthy of such honour. The conferring of these honours takes place yearly on the birthday of the greatest Hungarian physician, Ignatius Philip Semmelweis. Semmelweis' human and medical genius has been commemorated by numerous books, motion-pictures and plays. It is well known that he is considered all over the world as one of the greatest benefactors of mankind whose epithet is: „The saviour of Mothers". Yet, the effects of his activity are even much greater: with the theory of asepsis he opened a new way for the evolution of modern surgery. His work has influenced the whole medical thinking. With the discovery of the causes of the puerperal fever and the elaboration of its preventive measures he opened new perspectives in the domain of hygiene and prevention. To day's anniversary celebration is not the proper place to examine and review Semmelweis' greatness and influence, and that all the less since this has already been done before by many people. Nevertheless, it may be right to draw a lesson from his life to-day while commemorating here his 140-th anniversary also by honouring the best Hungarian physicians and chemists. May I therefore analyse two questions in connection with Semmelweis' life, in this very room Where Semmelweis at several occasions exposed his teaching, where he found so many friends and supporters for his great struggle. These two questions have repeatedly arisen in our days. The first question has been worded somewhat in the following way: What have exact sciences and thus medicial science to do with philosophy? Why does Engels say that „philisophy revenges itself on natural science if natural science leaves philosophy"? An answer to this question is given also by the tragical life, the heavy struggle of Semmelweis who started his career as a young, gay and carefree physician.