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)
J. Antall: State Interference and the Dilemma of Liberalism in the Field of Medical Training and Public Health
46 Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist . Artis Med . Suppl. 6.) question of practical policy, thus even forestalling individualistic liberalism that abhorred the idea of state interference. It is by no means insignificant that one of the representatives of classical liberalism, Lajos Kossuth, revised his views when the circumstances convinced him of its necessity. In economics at first he was the supporter of free trade but under the influence of Fr. List he later became the adherent of protectionism and wanted to establish tariffs to protect Hungarian industry. He came to recognize the necessity of state interference in general : "In the last century the notion dominated in political science that the only duty of the state is the protection of the social order , and the rest must be left to go on its own way. But social relations have become so complicated, the mechanical and natural sciences introduced so many new elements into life where the new demands cannot be met by individual action, that the principle of the previous century is no longer applicable to the conditions of today, consequently the impression has arisen that the duty of the state is not only to be the guardian of order but also to be the lever of progress." 1 3 During the Hungarian revolution of 1848 a widespread movement got started aiming at the reformation of higher education, including medical training and with a special view to public health. Now the need for state interference was clear to everyone. The primary aim was to settle the question by way of legislation. On that there was agreement between the various groups of the medical profession, the relatively homogeneous circle of Balassa and the older generation of Bugát and Ferenc Flór, in spite of differences due to age and approach. But when the country was forced to use arms to defend itself the realization of the comprehensive educational proposals of Eötvös had to be postponed, together with the other plans to improve public health. The best representatives of the medical profession put on the uniform to become military surgeons, and after the lost struggle came the years of oppression. The circle of Balassa, where the real moving force and organizer was Lajos Markusovszky, the friend and supporter of Ignác Semmelweis, continued medical practice and was preparing for new reforms at their friendly gatherings. The starting of Orvosi Hetilap (Medical Weekly) in 1857 created an organ indispensable to this purpose and the short-term Parliament (Diet) of 1861 offered possibilities for some political moves. The various associations and their conferences also gave opportunities for preparatory work. Despite the differences existing between the various medical groups and bypassing earlier plans drawn up by the itinerary congresses, a National Public Health Council (Országos Közegészségügyi Tanács) was set up in 1868 on the basis of a plan elaborated by the Balassa-circle and led by their representatives. Markusovszky prepared a memorandum in which he made a detailed survey of medical affairs in general and public health in particular. In health provisions he emphasized 1 3 Lajos Kossuth's last public speech delivered to a group of Hungarians travelling to the World Fair in Paris. Turin (Torino), 5 July 1889. In Kossuth Lajos iratai (The Papers of Lajos Kossuth.) Vol. X. Budapest, 1904. pp. 304—305.
