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

TANULMÁNYOK - Regöly-Mérei, Gyula: The Pathological Reconstruction of Semmelweis's Disease on the Basis of the Catamnestic Analysis and Palaeopathological Examination (angol nyelvű közlemény)

the available data in detail in the following order: a) analysis of Semmelweis's activity and behaviour, b) a critical review of his writings, c) the origin of the fracture of his arm, d) premature ageing and e) a summing up of the catamnestic statements. a) Semmelweis's behaviour and activity up to July I860 Hegar'

s data (40) can be considered precise and reliable. They derive, as a matter of fact, from notes made by I. Hirschler who was on friendly terms with Semmelweis ; V. Tauffer, a highly respected professor of obstetrics of the Budapest University, gave the notes to Hegar and encouraged him to write a book on Semmelweis. (20). Hegar, too makes reference to Semmelweis's irritability, absent-mindedness and forgetfulness, childish disposition, emotionalism and that he voiced his theories everywhere, at lectures and on the street too. The journal Gyógyászat wrote in 1890 (p. 324) that in the lectures delivered at the University Semmelweis reverts again and again to the topic of puerperal fever. The reminescences of Fleischer had already been mentioned earlier. Irascibility and, at the same time, kindheartedness were fundamental psychic traits of Semmelweis. The proposition made to Siebold — that the latter should call together the obstetricians in a German town in order to personally discuss their differences in opinion (65) — can only be considered a childish naivety. The fact that he continually harks back to the dissemination of his theories is far more the consistency of the researcher than a pathological symptom. It does honour to the researcher true to his conviction. Pachner's observation (45), according to which Semmelweis showed signs of ataxia from 1864, is far more important. However, this observation had not been mentioned in other contemporary writings although tabetic ataxia, would have aroused attention and that the more since locomotor ataxia was considered a symptom of tabes already at that time. Now let us survey Semmelweis's medical practice. 1. The functioning of the clinic was described in detail by the professor's assistants from 1856 to 1865 with the exception of the years 1860, 1802 and 1863. Although these reports were nor written by Semmelweis himself, it is his merit that he had these reports summed up, a rather unusual fact at that time. 2. Semmelweis was the head of the Vaccination Institute of the Medical Faculty since 1862. 3. He managed the affairs of the economic prefect (director) of the medical f acuity. 4. Ha was the chief of the faculty's professorial library, had it transferred to the building of the faculty and had a catalogue of the books and journals published (67) in alphabetical and classified order on the basis of autographic notes; the •catalogue ran to 42 printed sheets. 5. From 1863 to 1865 he took an active part in preparing and organizing the Itinerant Conferences of Hungarian Physicians and Naturalists. 6. On June 23rd 1863, Semmelweis performed ovariotomy for the first time in Hungary. Inspired by the earlier successful operations of Ephraim Mac