THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

THE HYPOTHESIS OF A MADMAN OR A PIONEER?

In 1846, Ignaz P. Semmelweis began work as an assistant doctor at the Vienna General Hospital. This hospital was divided into two wards: one for doctors, where Semmelweis worked, and another for midwives. Johann Klein, the medical director in charge of the doctors’ ward, was the first person to have his students examine cadavers at the hospital. This meant the obstetrics students were both performing autopsies on cadavers and attending mothers giving birth.

After the implementation of the new training system, the cases of puerperal fever in women who gave birth in the doctors’ ward increased significantly in comparison with the midwifery ward. After weeks of observation, Semmelweis proposed a hypothesis that the student doctors were transmitting the puerperal fever. He saw that they were performing autopsies on cadavers, then exploring the pregnant mothers without washing their hands. At first, he was accused of being mad and was even fired from his job. However, Semmelweis then made it obligatory for anyone examining cadavers to wash their hands afterwards and disinfect them with a calcium chloride solution. With this new rule in place, the cases of puerperal fever dropped dramatically, confirming Semmelweis’ hypothesis. Nevertheless, several years passed before the scientific community recognised the value of this great doctor’s observations and contributions.

Reading And Listening

1 What do the following words mean: a) Unconventional. b) Pioneer. c) Obligatory. d) Implement.

2 Use the words in the previous activity to write a summary of the text.

3 Why was Semmelweis treated like a lunatic?

Discussing in pairs: Creating a hypothesis

4 Look at the following pictures. What can you notice? Discuss with a classmate the different colours of the sky and the time of day.