Antall József szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 115-116. (Budapest, 19869

KISEBB KÖZLEMÉNYEK — ELŐADÁSOK - Ringelhann, Béla: A digitalis 200 éve az orvostörténetben (angol nyelven)

200 YEARS OF THE DIGITALIS IN MEDICAL HISTORY* RINGELHANN BÉLA 200 years ago William Withering published his book, An Account of the Foxglove. (Fig. 1) The foxglove is the same plant as the German Fingerhut or the Hungarian gyűszűvirág. Withering's views were "happily displayed" in a little poem: The foxglove's leaves with caution given Another proof of favouring Heav'n Will happily display; The rapid pulse it can abate; The hectic flush can moderate And, blest by Him whose will is fate May give a lengthen'd day. William Withering was born in 1741 near Wellington in Shorpshire, not far from Stratfordupon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare. His father practiced medicine and the son followed him in this profession. The medical faculty of Edinburgh had a high esteem at the time, so Withering chose to study there. There were several famous scientists among the professors, like the members of the Monroe family, who taught anatomy throughout three generations for 126 years. The famous Gullen, who came from a poor family, was the first to teach Materia Medica in English instead of in Latin at an English university. Whytt, professor of neurology, was the first who published a case of hysteria. The botanist Hope founded the first botanical garden in Edinburgh. [1] The title of Withering's thesis was Malignus sore throat. At his first job in the Shorpshire Hospital Withering was not too busy, so he had time left for experimenting in other fields: he wrote a book on English flora in 1776. This became a wellknown work and Withering published it four more times. Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, invited him to Birmingham in 1775 which made Withering very happy, since Birmingham was a larger town than Shorpshire. Ha became second internsit of the hospital and later a member of the 'Lunar Society', a club that held its meetings in every 28th day at full-moon. Its members were outstanding people, like the founder Boulton, who was a great economist and an expert in financial issues. He was called 'Captain of Industry' and had 700 people working for him. Another member was Murdock, the inventor of gas lighting. Boulton invited James Watt who was just at work on his steam engine. Priestley, one of the discovered of oxygen, Baskerville, the printer, Erasmus Darwin and others completed * Given in Hungarian at the award ceremony for the presentation of the "J. Sambucus Memorial Medal" on March 28. 1985. (Ed.).