Details
SEMMELWEIS, Ignaz Philipp (1818-1865). Zwei offene Briefe an Hofrath Dr. Eduard Casp. Jac. v. Siebold, Professor der Geburtshilfe zu Gttingen, und an Hofrath Dr. F.W. Scanzoni, Professor der Geburtshilfe an der knigl. ungar. Universitt zu Pest. Pest: Gustav Emich, 1861.
8o (188 x 130 mm). (Corners creased throughout.) Original printed blue wrappers (a few small tears, minor staining to upper wrapper).
[With:]
SEMMELWEIS. Offener Brief an smmtliche Professoren der Geburtshilfe. Ofen: Knigliche ungarische Buchsdruckerei, 1862.
8o (196 x 128 mm). (Light foxing to title.) Modern half calf, original blue printed wrappers preserved.
FIRST EDITIONS. Semmelweis responded passionately to unfavorable reviews of his Aetiologie... des Kindbettfiebers, stopping just short of accusing his critics of abetting the spread of a killer disease. In his 1861 reply to two of his critics Semmelweis refutes Siebold's accusation that his attribution of the cause of puerperal fever to a cadaver-borne infectious agent was exclusive and too narrow, pointing out that in his book he described two cases of the fever having its source in living diseased patients, one suffering from uterine cancer and the other from a knee infection. He reiterates his conclusion that, whatever its immediate source, the infectious cause of puerperal fever is "decomposed animal-organic matter". In his shorter letter to Scanzoni of Wrzburg Semmelweis focuses on the results of his prophylactic method in various clinics, and mocks his critics' assumptions that there are fewer epidemics of puerperal fever in summer because it is a more healthful time of year than winter, pointing out that medical students are out of school in summer and hence not engaging in activities likely to spread infection.
Semmelweis's 1862 general letter "to professors of obstetrics" proceeds in similar fashion, responding acerbically to various criticisms and providing supplementary historical background to his book from his very wide readings in medical history. The pamphlet ends abruptly, announcing a continuation to follow (apparently never published?). Semmelweis's vehement replies to his critics "did little to advance his ideas" (DSB). Waller 8835 and 8833; Norman 1927 and 1928. (2)
8
[With:]
SEMMELWEIS. Offener Brief an smmtliche Professoren der Geburtshilfe. Ofen: Knigliche ungarische Buchsdruckerei, 1862.
8
FIRST EDITIONS. Semmelweis responded passionately to unfavorable reviews of his Aetiologie... des Kindbettfiebers, stopping just short of accusing his critics of abetting the spread of a killer disease. In his 1861 reply to two of his critics Semmelweis refutes Siebold's accusation that his attribution of the cause of puerperal fever to a cadaver-borne infectious agent was exclusive and too narrow, pointing out that in his book he described two cases of the fever having its source in living diseased patients, one suffering from uterine cancer and the other from a knee infection. He reiterates his conclusion that, whatever its immediate source, the infectious cause of puerperal fever is "decomposed animal-organic matter". In his shorter letter to Scanzoni of Wrzburg Semmelweis focuses on the results of his prophylactic method in various clinics, and mocks his critics' assumptions that there are fewer epidemics of puerperal fever in summer because it is a more healthful time of year than winter, pointing out that medical students are out of school in summer and hence not engaging in activities likely to spread infection.
Semmelweis's 1862 general letter "to professors of obstetrics" proceeds in similar fashion, responding acerbically to various criticisms and providing supplementary historical background to his book from his very wide readings in medical history. The pamphlet ends abruptly, announcing a continuation to follow (apparently never published?). Semmelweis's vehement replies to his critics "did little to advance his ideas" (DSB). Waller 8835 and 8833; Norman 1927 and 1928. (2)