Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 20. (Budapest, 1987)
His first faunistic studies widened our knowledge on the parasite fauna of Hungary. Laterhe studied the ontogenesis of coccidia, the biology of Prosthogonimus cuneatus, Fasciola hepa- tica, Oesophagostomum dentatum , Hyostrongylus rubidus , Bunostomum phlebotomum and some other species. He dealt with the pathologic effects of parasites, the host's reaction-,the immunity elicited by parasitic infections. In his experimental studies on swine hyostrongylosis and oesophagostomosis he was the first to recognize the significance of the histotropic phase as a phenomenon of host-parasite interaction now frequently called as hypobiosis or arrested development. That was also the topic of his inaugural address at the Academy of Sciences in 1946. He elucidated the question of the agents and vectors of piroplasmosis of various host species in Hungary. Several of his papers dealt with the diagnosis, distribution and control of parasitoses helping veterinary practitioners and laboratory experts. He was always deeply engaged with his current favourite problem, sitting days long by the microscope forgetting about other things. On the other hand he helped postgraduates, adviced practicing veterinarians, examined snail habitats on fluky pastures and took part in field studies to reveal the epidemiological features of outbreaks. Besides doing theoretical and practical research he initiated the veterinary administration to elaborate control measures against certain parasitoses such as fasciolosis, echinococcosis, scabies, ascariosis, to extend the network of diagnostic laboratories and to organize strategic control programmes. S. KOTLÁN had received a comprehensive education: besides showing interest in natural sciences he had a good command of German, English, Greek and Latin, he was interested in-ancient phylosophers , archeology, numismatics and history. He was in charge of the library of the Budapest veterinary school between 19,21 and 1947. His book "History of the HungarianVeterinary Education" was published in 1941 on the 150th anniversary of the school. In 1962 he compiled another essay "The 175-years-old past of the Hungarian Veterinary Education These essays have become indispensable reference works for those interested in the history of the veterinary education in Hungary and Europe. Between 1929 and 1951 KOTLÁN's cabinet was also the editorial office of the "Állatorvosi Lapok" (Veterinary Journal), later of the "Magyar Állatorvosok Lapja" (Hungarian Veterinary Journal). Furthermore he was the editor of the "Közlemények az Összehasonlító Élet- és Kórtan Köréből" (Communications on Comparative Physiology and Pathology) and from 1949 till his death also of the Acta Veterinaria Hungarica. It can be stated that the internationally recognized standard of the Hungarian veterinary journals have developed largely due to his sound philological knowledge and self-sacrificing editorial work. He was invited to the editorial board of Folia Parasitologica (Prague) and Helminthologia (Bratislava). Hungarian veterinarians ranked the performance of Sándor KOTLÁN and his school very high At the time of its foundation in 1961 the Hungarian Veterinary Association elected R. MANN INGER to be its first President and S. KOTLÁN together with J. MÓCSY to be its first Vice-Presidents. KOTLÁN was the President of the Parasitological Section of the HVA His service was honoured by awarding the F. .HUTYRA Medal of the HVA to him in 1962. KOTLÁN's work was also internationally acknowledged. In 192 7 he was elected to be a corresponding member of the Helminthological Society of Washington. For several terms he was the secretary of the Permanent Committe for Parasitology of the International Zoological Congress, he was honorary member of the Polish Society of Parasitologists (1957) and of the All-Union Helminthological Society of the USSR (1956). In 1962 the Theodor KITT Medal of the Veterinary Society in Munich was bestowed upon him. Professor KOTLÁN did not interfere much in the every-day work of his associates but he was always ready to help them when it was really needed. He was a lonesome researcher. He liked to be undisturbed, to withdraw into his quiet study to concentrate himself to the problem he was actually interested in. He did not use to come to the department too early but the light was on till late at night in his room. He believed that motivation for research had to derive from an internal wish of cognition. Those who had this wish were allowed to remain at his department, while people without it or being superficial were totally neglected and sooner or later they looked for another job. He was not a great organizer, but his personal credit, his
