Ignaz Semmelweis
1818–1865
Ignaz Semmelweis
1818–1865
Medical students and
midwives work in both
clinics
20
Maternal mortality rate (%)
Med students
only
15
Handwashing
mandated
Semmelweis fired
10
5
0
First clinic
Second clinic
Midwives only
Year
Why was Semmelweis not believed?
A grand conflict between Empiricism (modern!)
and medieval, pre-scientific beliefs?
Politics
Institutions
Class
Culture