Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 57-59. (Budapest, 1971)

TANULMÁNYOK - Antall József: A pesti orvosi iskola kialakulása és a centralisták egészségügyi politikája (angol nyelven)

and the recognition of the causative elements, the microbiological revolution connected with Pasteur and Koch is only one step away. The most distinguished Hungarian physicians, who studied in Budapest and Vienna, acquired the most up-to-date medical knowledge. They visited the best institutes of Berlin, London, Paris and the other great European towns, called on the internationally noted specialists. Perhaps it was Virchow who exercised the greatest influence on them at that period. But we do not want to deny, not for a moment, that it was the second Viennese school—so well treated in the work of Erna Lesky*—which had the most direct influence on the emergence of the Hungarian medical school. Its representatives were mainly the followers of the Viennese school, although they did not only receive, but some of them already gave, too. The disciples-partly learning from other masters, too — formed an independent Hungarian medical school, known as the medical school of Pest. II. Although there came two generations of physicians in Hungary after the first school of Vienna, one cannot speak of a Hungarian medical school before the 1840s. Only the medical school of Pest, forming around the persons of János Balassa and Lajos Markusovszky in the middle of the 19

th century, can be regarded as an independent school. This medical circle was characterized by a common medical approach, a program for public health based on up-to-date social foundations, expert knowledge reaching the standards of the leading countries, and by kindred political ideas. At the same time it was a true school, an educative training-ground for the new generation of physicians.

9 When Balassa went to Vienna with excellent recommendations and became an operative assistant under Schuh, he learnt everything he could in Vienna. It was in Vienna that the friendship of Markusovszky, Sándor Lumniczer, and Ignác Semmelweis, who all started their studies in the university of Pest and continued them in Vienna, began. Balassa was hardly older than them but already a professor when they finished their studies. The attractive personality of Balassa combined the type of the public man, the scientist and the practising physician, he had all the qualities to make him the head of this circle, also known as Balassasociety.

10 Markusovszky was the greatest organizer of Hungarian medical life and medical higher education, he was the driving force of the group and a leading figure of the age.

11 The personality of Lumniczer was somewhat similar 8 Lesky, E. : Die Wiener Medicinische Schule im 19. Jahrhundert. Graz —Köln, 1965. 9 Gortvay Gy. : Az újabbkori magyar orvosi művelődés és egészségügy története. Vol. I. Budapest, 1953. 10 Balogh J. : Balassa János, az első magyar sebészeti iskola megalapítója. = Comm. Hist. Artis Med. 48 — 49. (1969), 43 — 63. 11 Antall J. : Markusovszky Lajos, 1815 — 1893. = Természettudományi Közlöny, 1965. 5. 238 — 239. 12 Orvostörténeti Közlemények 57—59