Magyar László szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 174-177. (Budapest, 2001)

KÖZLEMÉNYEK — COMMUNICATIONS - Tricot, Jean-Paul: The memory of today in the history of medicne. — (A ma emlékezete az orvostörténelemben.)

Tricot, J-P.: The Memory of Today 87 This could be a challenge to attract more young research workers in our discipline: to imagine the most appropriate tools to keep the memory of the present and of the close past. These purpose corresponds perfectly with the original aims the founders of the International Society for the History of Medicine worked towards. When one consults the first minutes of meetings held during that era, one realizes that the main goal of the Society's promoters was not so much the desire to create an international scientific society whose aim would be to assemble the insufficiently numerous scholars specializing in the subject during that period, but, instead, to promote, by all means possible as well as by a policy of attendance, an interest and a current impelling the study of the history of medicine and emphasizing its importance. It follows that, from the moment of its foundation, the ISHM would open its doors to professional historians as well as to physicians interested in the history of medicine. Mister Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a pity I became member of the International Society for the History of Medicine in 1975 only. Why ? Because one year before, from the 25th to 31th August of 1974, Prof Schultheisz and Dr Antall organised here in Budapest the XXIVth International Congress for the History of Medicine. The organizers were already concerned with a global aproach to medical history. The themes of this congress were : — The development of medicine from the 18th to the 20th century. — The medical relation of Hungary and the Eastern European countries with other nations. — The history of pharmacy. — Ethnology and medical prehistory. Actual good medical practice depends on experiences of the past, so managing good medical congresses depends also on knowledge and skills acquired beforehand. I hope that in this assembly some volunteers, designed or not, should be able to organize here in Budapest in a very near future one of our next congresses. You did it. You have to do it again. I know I can rely upon you! Long live the Societas Hungarica Artis Históriáé Medicináé. JEAN-PIERRE TRICOT, Prof, MD President of ISHM Vrijheidstraat 19 B-2000 Antwerpen BELGIUM