Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 51-53. (Budapest, 1969)
Erna Lesky: A Budapesti Orvostudományi Egyetem 200 éves jubileumára
hen the medical faculty of the Pázmány University* is going to celebrate its yy 200th anniversary, this does not only fill the Hungarian nation with pride, but, moreov er, whereev er medical science is practised in the world this will find due recognition and response. The medical faculty of Budapest has gained a place of high honour in the close connex in which alone scientific progress can be achieved. Under the most difficult circumstances the real Hippocratic spirit of serving to the sick was connected with a passionate striving after scientific knowledge. This connexion has been demonstrated to the world in an exemplary way since 200 years. The medical school of Budapest has educated generations of efficient and humane physicians for its country in this spirit since 200 years. Many authorities stem from this school which decisively contributed to the most different fields of international medicine. Only a few names may be enumerated here : pediaters have to be grateful for what father and son János Bókay achieved in their field. József Fodor is every important for the establishing of hygiene as a proper discipline of medicine. Endre Hógyes' work was epoch-making in otoneurology and Frigyes Korányi began the struggle against tuberculosis, this widespread epidemic of the 19th century, whereas his son Sándor Korányi became the founder of diagnosis of renal pathology at the beginning of our century. At the same time appeared the pioneering publications of Ödön Krompecher about cancer of basal cells. But all these pioneer achievements of the Budapest medical faculty were surpassed by one which united highest medical responsibility and precise scientific thinking, namely the part of Budapest and its medical faculty in the work and activity of I. Ph. Semmelweis. When after several decades of heroic struggles for his discovery Semmelweis is praised today as the "saviour of mothers" in all languages, all thanks are focussed in this name of honour which is so closely linked to the Budapest medical faculty. Thus we close this honouring task of speaking in the name of the foreign medical faculties in thanking for 200 years of service to mankind and in wishing all the best for further successful progress of the Medical University of Budapest. * The medical faculty of Pázmány University (founded in 1635) is functioning independently since 1951 as the Medical University of Budapest. Erna Lesky
