J. Antall szerk.: Medical history in Hungary 1972. Presented to the XXIII. International Congress of the History of Medicine / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 6. (Budapest, 1972)
M. Vida: State-Models (Utopias) and Sociology of Medicine
38 Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist. Artis Med. Suppl. 6.) THE IMPORTANCE OF SANITARIAN UTOPIAS Until the age of enlightenment in Europe — moreover until the middle of the 19th century in East-Europe and in Hungary— the idea was predominant in the fields of sciences, that "the only mission of state is to secure social order , the rest has to go as it can" 8 5 The development of natural sciences and technique forced the state to be not only "the guardian of order", but also the promoter of progress. In the political consideration of the 19th century the acknowledgement of interdependence, economic life, public education and public health was generally enforced, and this contributed greatly to the success of a modern civil state system. This issue was realized during the period of Compromise of 1867, when József Eötvös was the Minister of Education (1867—1872) and later on, when Ágoston Trefort became Eötvös's successor (1872— 1888). They acknowledged that public education and public health are also matters of economical questions, which determine the physical and mental condition of man, the most important factor of production. s 0 In well-developed capitalist countries —in England, France, Italy and in the German states —almost until the end of the 19th century we can see sanitarian orders, which were not organized by states, only up by private enterprise. The practical importance of hospitals has increased during the last century, when specialized natural sciences became the basis of medical treatment. There was an unsurmountable gap between the first great discoveries of medicine in the 17th century —the discoveries of blood circulation, lymphatic system and micro-organisms —and the every day practice of medical treatment. In the field of medicine between the 16th and the 18th centuries were created by great scientists often independent from hospitals or universities, or sometimes these scientists were not even physicians. 8 7 We cannot discuss about real empiric medicine, till hospital did not become the most important basis of medical treatment. Only the acknowledgement and utilisation of educational work of the hospital lead to practical medicine. "Durin§, the education of hospital ward professors of medicine studied how to use natural scientific way of thinking for the sake of medical treatment" 88 However, the generalization of Hermann Boerhaave's (1668 — 1738) epochmaking method during the 18th century, was kept back by the several webs 8 5 Kossuth Lajos iratai. (Writings.) Vol. X, Bp. 1904, 304-305 pp. 8 0 Antall, J.: Absolutism and Libaralism in Health Policy in Hungary. In: Medical History in Hungary 1970, (Comm. Hist. Artis Med. Suppl. 4.); ib. Eötvös József művelődéspolitikája és a középiskolai reform előkészítése. (Cultural Policy of József Eötvös and preparation to reform secondary education.) Magyar Pedagógia. 1971, No. 12,159 p.; Ib. A pesti orvosi iskola és a centralisták egészségügyi politikája. (Medical School of Pest and Sanitarian Policy of Centralists.) Orvosi Hetilap, 1971, 112, No. 19, 1088 p.; Trefort, Á.: Beszédek és levelek. (Speeches and Letters.) Bp. 1888, 143, 147, 180 pp. 8 7 Vekerdi, L. : A kórház története. (The History of Hospital.) Kalandozás a tudományok történetében. (Adventures in the History of Sciences.) Bp. 1969, 439 p. 8 8 Vekerdi op. cit. 440 p.
