by Theodore G Obenchain
The University of Alabama Press, 2016, 249 pgs, Biography
In a time before germ theory existed, giving birth in a hospital was especially dangerous because childbed fever ran rampant throughout maternity wards all over Europe. In 1847, Ignaz Simmelweis realized the disease was spread through contamination by contact, typically occurring from the hands of the physician, of the wounds caused by labor with toxic particles originating in cadavers or other infected persons, and that infection could be prevented through sanitation measures.
However the medical community was not intellectually prepared to accept Simmelweis’ new doctrine for a multitude of reasons. This disregard and contempt from his peers caused him extreme mental stress for the rest of his life. The author of this biography proposes that Simmelweis suffered from bipolar disorder, which was exacerbated by his colleague’s refusal to see the truth. This made him very difficult to work with and ultimately hindered the acceptance of his doctrine. The disdain he received in life culminated in the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.
This man solved a problem that had been plaguing hospitals for years, yet most would not believe him mostly because his theory of one cause for the disease was so unorthodox. I was absolutely baffled that these men of medical science would reject a theory that very clearly and drastically reduced mortality rates, whatever the theory behind it, out of sheer arrogance. Anyone interested in medical science or the history of medicine will enjoy this biography.
ER
No comments:
Post a Comment