Ignaz Semmelweis
was born
200 years ago
(1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865)
July 1 has been the Hungarian
Healthcare Day since 1992
He completed his university
studies in Pest and Vienna.
1835
Course in Humanities, Pest
1837
Faculty of Law, Vienna
1838
Faculty of Medicine, Pest
1840
Faculty of Medicine, Vienna
1844
He was awarded the doctorate
degree in medicine and master
in obstetrics diploma.
1845
Appointed assistant
(chief resident) in
the Obstetric Clinic of the
Vienna General Hospital
(Allgemeines Krankenhaus).
He was bestowed the
surgeon doctor degree.
1858
He published the article
entitled
The Etiology of
Childbed Fever
in the
Hungarian Medical Weekly.
1860
His book entitled
Die Aetiologie,
der Begriff und die Prophylaxis
des Kindbettfiebers
was published in German.
(The Etiology, Concept and Prophylaxis
of Childbed Fever)
In 1847 Semmelweis dis-
covered that childbed fever
was caused by the doctors
examining pregnant women
without washing their hands
after performing autopsy.
In the unit where midwives
worked (not performing
autopsies) childbed fever
mortality rate and numbers
were not that high.
He probed his theory by using
comparative statistical methods.
In 1847 Semmelweis ordered medical students
and nursing staff to use a solution of chlorinated
lime for washing their hands (up to the elbow,
with nailbrush for 15 minutes).
“My teaching
is for saving
the wife for
her husband,
the mother for
her child.”
(Painting by Mária Túry)