Description

Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818–1865) was a Hungarian physician of German descent, known as the "savior of mothers" for pioneering antiseptic procedures. In the 19th century, postpartum infections were common and often fatal. In 1847, Semmelweis drastically reduced maternal mortality rates at Vienna General Hospital by introducing handwashing with chlorinated lime solutions, lowering the rate from 18% to less than 2%. Despite his success, the medical community rejected his findings, as they conflicted with established beliefs and lacked a theoretical explanation. Semmelweis faced ridicule and was eventually committed to an asylum in 1865, where he died shortly after being beaten by guards. His work gained recognition only years later when Louis Pasteur's germ theory provided a scientific basis for his observations, and Joseph Lister successfully implemented hygienic practices in surgery.

Engraver: Enikő Szöllőssy