Ignaz Semmelweis
Discovered that handwashing could drastically reduce the incidence of puerperal fever, though his findings were initially rejected.
Most quoted
"When I look back upon the past, I see the error of my ways, but I also see the error of the ways of my opponents. I see that I was too impatient, too impetuous, too unyielding. But I also see that they were too blind, too prejudiced, too obstinate."
— from Reflections on his career
"Puerperal fever is a blood poisoning caused by the absorption of putrid organic matter, originating from cadaveric particles, into the blood of the parturient woman."
— from Die Ätiologie, der Begriff und die Prophylaxis des Kindbettfiebers, 1861
"I have discovered the cause of puerperal fever, and it is nothing but the cadaveric particles adhering to the hands of the examining physicians and students."
— from Letter to Professor Skoda, 1847
All quotes by Ignaz Semmelweis (353)
The statistics speak for themselves; there is no denying the facts.
My opponents are not only wrong, but they are morally reprehensible.
The concept of 'miasma' is a dangerous delusion.
The solution is simple, yet it is resisted by complex minds.
I will not rest until this truth is universally accepted.
The medical profession has a duty to protect its patients, not to cling to outdated beliefs.
The suffering of these women is a direct consequence of medical negligence.
My method is not a cure, but a prevention.
The future of medicine lies in hygiene and prevention.
I am fighting for the lives of mothers, while others fight for their reputations.
The truth is often uncomfortable, especially for those who benefit from falsehoods.
The lives of the poor are just as valuable as the lives of the rich.
To ignore the evidence is to commit a grave injustice.
The medical community must overcome its arrogance and embrace new ideas.
I have seen too much suffering to remain silent.
The responsibility for these deaths lies squarely with those who refuse to implement my findings.
The medical textbooks of today are filled with errors regarding puerperal fever.
My work is a warning to all who would disregard the simplest principles of hygiene.
The future generations will judge us by how we treated our mothers.
The greatest discovery is not to find a cure, but to prevent the disease.
Contemporaries of Ignaz Semmelweis
Other Medicines born within 50 years of Ignaz Semmelweis (1818–1865).