Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 55-56. (Budapest, 1970)

TANULMÁNYOK - Zoltán Imre: Semmelweis (angol nyelvű közlemény)

that resistence to it can only be explained by wounded vanity, personal prejudice and professional jealousy of the 'big wig' professors." Sigerist also maintained that the unwillingness of the obstetricians to recognize Semmelweis'

s teachings was natural because they were reluctant to admit they were guilty of neglect of duty. With his discovery Semmelweis was a forerunner of his age and as so many other pioneers in the history of mankind he too had to face the invincible resistance of conservatism. In his memorial speech László Benedek said the following: "In every community and in every field there have been champions in the service of progress, and there is also a public opinion which, owing to its retrograde character Professors of the medical faculty of Vienna in 1849/50. Standing: Hyrtl, Sigmund, Redtenbacher, Unger, Haller, Brücke, Oppolzer, Helm, Hebra, Dlauhy. Sitting: Schuh, Rosas, Rokitansky, Skoda, Dumreicher cannot follow in the footsteps of the creative individual. It is not due to intellectual qualities but to sentimental reactions that the public is lagging behind. The activity of the emotional public, like the collectivized mind, will always form an antithesis to the segregated, responsible individual." Semmelweis defended his convictions with unshakable moral strength against a hostile world of scientific public opinion and fighting for the right of mothers to live. His fight against an unprecedented stubborn resistance in science and against the denial of a new doctrine makes us draw far-reaching conslusions from the viewpoint of the freedom of scientific thinking. For the modern man and doctor his significance can be best summed up in the example he set us: in his unfailing diligence, passionate fight for truth and his unshakable faith that neither failure nor indifference and slander could destroy.