Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 20. (Budapest, 1987)

firmness together with his wisdom and humanity and above all his demand for worth made the Department of Parasitology a small but respectable workshop, from where commenced the career of numerous parasitologists, among others of F. LŐRINCZ, T. VAJDA, L. PELLÉRDY, S. BABOS, T. KOBULEJ, L. VERSÉN

YI, J.C. BORAY, L. NEMESÉRI, F. HOLLÓ, T. KASSAI, I. VARGA, K. MOLNÁR. S. KOTLÁN, the scientist cannot be characterized without showing him as a human being. He married Mária ERGOVICS at the age of 39. They had no children. He was lucky to have a quiet and harmonious life, without striving for wealth. He had a valuable collection-of numismatic tokens. He used to spend his leisure time in his country house on the bank of the Danube where his guests were offered his home-made wine. He became widowed for the last decade of his life. He made three major proposals in order to ascertain appropriate progress of parasitology in Hungary. Of these the first one was the foundation of the Hungarian Society of Parasitologists which was established in 19 64 under the supervision of the HAS. The HSP elected Professor KOTLÁN to be its first president, and after his resignation in 19 67, to be its honorary president. The main task of the Society even now is to promote and organize the activities in fields of the veterinary, human and zoological parasitology in Hungary in the spirit of KOTLÁN's intentions. His aspiration fulfilled when "Parasitologia Hungarica" a periodical of the HSP was published. Unfortunately the first issue of it contained the obituary of Sándor KOTLÁN. His third intention, to establish a parasitological research center, remains to be realized. KOTLÁN's work was not confined only to animal parasites. He was an outstanding scientist of the undivided science of parasitology. As such in his lectures and books he devoted large scope to parasito-zoonoses and human parasitoses. He always paid attention to parasitological questions of public health and helped to solve them. Professor Ferenc LŐRINCZ, the founder of human parasitology in Hungary became acquainted with this expanding field of science in the laboratory and in the lectures of KOTLÁN in 1928. KOTLÁN enjoyed high reputation among zoologists, too. lie was a member of the Zoological Committee of the HAS and provided considerable support to promote the development of zoology at a time when this science appeared to be fairly neclected. The idea of writing the book of Fauna Hungáriáé arose in 19 59 but it met great resistance. KOTLÁN understood the importance of this work and put his authority into scale to urge a positive decision in this question. Till 1965 KOTLÁN was member, then up to his death he was chairman of the Editorial Board of Fauna Hungáriáé. KOTLÁN's career coincides with one of the most eventful periods of Hungarian history. He was a man of humanity even in the most challenging times. His behaviour and opinion was not changed by political trends. Persecuted or neglected people could always rely on his understanding and support. He joined no parties, avoided political debates, but trusting in the democratic development of the country after liberation he progressively participated in the work. That was his responsible and active patriotism. After the memorial speech showing KOTLÁN's career and personality the representatives of the Hungarian and foreign institutes and organizations addressed the audience. On behalf of the Department of Agriculture of the HAS Academician MÉSZÁROS evaluated KOTLÁN's work at the Academy of Sciences. He emphasized the significance of KOTLÁN's activity in founding and editing Acta Veterinaria. Professor VÁRNAGY expressed the honour and gratitude of the Hungarian veterinarians. Then Professor AESCHLIMANN, president of the Swiss Academy of Sciences and that of the World Federation of Parasitologists (Neuchâtel) and Professor HOVORKA, Director of the Helminthological Research Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Kosice) addressed the memorial session. In the second part of the opening session the certificate of the honorary membership of the Hungarian Society of Parasitologists was presented to J.C. BORAY (Glenfield, Australia) who