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)
G. Jeszenszky: Medical and Sanitary Conditions in Hungary as Seen by British Travellers, 1790—1848
ioo Medical History in Hungary 1972 (Comm. Hist. Artis Med. Suppl. 6.) Here, however, the dispute so often agitated, respecting the contagious or epidemic nature of certain diseases, has been renewed ; and, upon the whole, it appears to be the prevailing opinion, that this destructive disease, known by the name of the Lösedörre, Rinderpest, or Magensenche, is generally first introduced by contagion. Its most fatal ravages are felt, when the precautions of separating the infected animals from the sound are most neglected. This disease prevails in some parts of Hungary almost every year, and is generally ascribed to communication with infected cattle, brought by dealers out of Walachia, Moldavia, or some provinces bordering on the eastern and north-eastern frontier . On the other hand, however, it is believed by many, that it is often generated in the cattle, by fatigue, and a deficient supply of food while travelling; and that, under these circumstances, the sick become sources of contagion to the herds of the countries through which they pass. Thus the Hungarians lay the blame of their misfortunes upon the Moldavians, and the Germans upon the Hungarians. This disease appears in the form of an acute fever, attented with inflammation of the membrane of the nostrils and fauces, followed in a few days by severe affections of the alimentary canal, and by fatal weakness and exhaustion." 5 1 Bright even gives some figures on the ravages of the disease in 1795 and 1812, adding that it assumes a regularly returning character in some parts of the country. Looking back from a distance of nearly two centuries one cannot notice without some astonishment how great attraction the hot baths and other medicinal waters held already then. Most of today's known (or even the less-known) springs and bathing places were frequented both by the peasants and the gentry, and —as we can see —even by foreigners. All the writers mentioned here visited some of them and related their experiences. The public bathing establishment had a long past in Hungary and were not destroyed by the Turks as they themselves were frequent users of them, but most people went there only for cupping and scarification of for wordly pleasures. The British visitors were quite shocked by some public baths, Hunter for example speaks of "a scene far too disgusting for description" , 5 2 while Bright was scared by the sight of "only partially covered bodies of both sexes", "splashing in the hot supphureous water ... indulging, amidst the fumes, a kind of lethargic slumber ." His spirit was not revived by seeing that "a poor miserable surgeon was practising the operations of cupping and scarification, studiously inflicting as many wounds, and making as much shew of blood as possible, in order to satisfy the immoderate appetite of the Hungarian peasant for this species of medical treatment." 5 3 The case of the various springs and the bathing establishments built on them in the countryside, amidst beautiful surroundings, was quite different. They were places for entertainment and the early English tourists did enjoy them, if not the waters, then the company. Paget visited many such places. He duly 5 1 Bright, pp. 604-5. 5 2 Hunter, II. p. 162. 5 3 Bright, p. 284. His observations on the medical practices seen at Hévíz near Lake Balaton were similar.
