Article Text
Perinatal lessons from the past
Ignac Semmelweis (1818–1865) of Budapest and the prevention of puerperal fever
Abstract
As a junior obstetrician in Vienna in 1847, Semmelweis discovered the cause of puerperal fever and introduced a method for its prevention. Although his findings were hailed by some as comparable to Jenner’s introduction of vaccination, for various reasons his ideas failed to gain general acceptance until after his death.
- history
- puerperal fever