Historical information

Medal struck for the 24th International Congress of the International Society of the History of Medicine, held in Budapest in 1974. This medal was given to contributors to the congress. Dr Frank Forster delivered a paper at this congress. There are some slides relating to Ignac Semmelweis in Frank Forster's slide collection under the heading of 'Budapest'.

Significance

Ignac Semmelweis is credited with discovering the cause of puerperal sepsis, by establishing a link to the infectious material carried on the hands of students and doctors from the autopsy room into the maternity ward.

Physical description

Round bronze coloured medal. Front of medal carries an image of a statue of a woman with an infant beneath a leafed archway, and the text 'SEMMELWEIS/IGNAC/1818/1865'. Back of medal carries an image of a shield/crest overlaid with a representation of the Staff of Asclepius (serpent wrapped around a stick) and the text 'S.I.H.M./BUDAPEST/1974'. Bakc of medal is encircled with the text 'CONGRESSUS INTERNATIONALIS XXIV HISTORIAE ARTIS MEDICINAE'.