Antall József szerk.: Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 5. (Budapest, 1972)

Preface

was influenced favourably. In the Second World War the dangerous effects n of the jungle were counteracted with the use of the insecticide DDT. Examining the question from the other aspect, we may see how far the state of public health was affected by wars. It will suffice to refer to the crusades and the spread of syphilis and leprosy which accompanied them together with various other epidemics. World War II on the other hand greatly contributed to the large scale production and use of penicillin and other antibiotics. These examples - picked out at random from time and space - aimed only at demonstrating the significance of medicohistorical research work from the viewpoint of history, cultural history and more strictly its significance in the history of the profession. Scientific research work is, however, only a part of the activity of the Semmelweis Medical Historical Museum and Library. Its other function is to collect, preserve and scientifically catalogue the objects and documents of medical history, and present them in exhibitions. To this goes the precious collection of the Archives. The Library with a collection of almost 100,000 volumes is an indispensable place for scientific research work and documentation. This present volume aims at introducing the reader to this manifold activity and the results of this work.