Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 45. (Budapest, 1968)

TANULMÁNYOK - József Antall: Sándor Lumniczer and the Medical School of Pest (Angol nyelvű közl.)

papers, but was soon relased. The deputation requesting his release was lead by Korányi, and he gives the reason why he was let go comparatively easily. "Prottmann's wife fell seriously ill and Balassa was invited to her. The charm of his personality did not fail to make an impression even on Prottmann and this mellowed him so much that he gave the salvus conductus to the whole Balassagroup. "On Markusovszky's inititative equestrian gatherings were held at first, joined by Lumniczer, and later by Balassa, too. The mounted society called "Faculté de medicine a cheval" discussed political and scientific questions, dreamt and planned for the future. Later on many people joined them, including Semmelweis, who returned from Vienna in October, 1850 and subsequently broke his arm at a riding-hall exercise—surely the sign of lack of practice, as a consequence of his absence from the fight [24]. But there was nothing to substitute medical practice, his profession. There is bitterness in his words when he writes to Korányi: "Among the instruments I brought from Paris I only use the knife I cut my corns with" [25]. Balassa found his way back to the university and this offered some opportunity for Markusovszky and Lumniczer, he engaged them as private assistants. Their close friendship with Semmelweis did not lose strength, when Semmelweis was still in Vienna, he did not forget to send his regards to Balassa and Lumniczer, when writing to Markusovszky (June 24th, 1850) [26]. Their encouragement must be behind his return, not to mention the publication of his discovery, which was first drawn up both in Hungarian and in German in Hungary. It was after Világos that the characteristic features of the "Pest School" represented by Balassa's circle, began to emerge. Their influence was increased by their connections with noted politicians, who later became responsible statesmen. Markusovszky was the family doctor of the Eötvös and Trefort families. They could start their Orvosi Hetilap (Medical Weekly) in 1857, still in the Bach period, the first Hungarian medical review after the Orvosi Tár (Medical Collection) suspended publication. True enough, Balassa had an aversion to the latter even in the Reform Age and preferred to publish his papers in the Wiener med. Wochenschrift [27]. In his articles [28] in the Orvosi Hetilap Lumniczer informed his readers on uretrostenosis, urethrostomy, "the advantages of plaster bandaging", tracheotomy, the extirpation of pseudoarthrosis, the thrombosis of the femoral vein, or surgical experiences about the "reduction of strangulated herniae". At the same time he played an active part in the Medical Association of Pest, of which he was Secretary-General (1862—68), Vice President (1868—80) and President (1880—86). To shew his clear, sound views and his courage it is not without interest to recall the speech he made in memory of his onetime model, Ágost Schoepf Merei, who had emigrated to Britain, set up an infant hospital there with Whitehead, and died there in 1858. That speech was made in October, 1860, following the issue of the October Diploma, after the failure of the Austrian arms in Italy. After duly outlining Schoepf Merei'

s life and activity, Lumniczer emphasized: "he possessed his patients' respectful esteem not only as physician, but as man, too". Half-way between Bach and Schmerling he had the courage 6 Orvostörténeti Közi.