Expert: Walter Hintz - 11/2/2008

Question
Hello,
I am doing my science GCSE early but I am only in year 9, do you know how I can revise without stress and not taking too much time but being able to remember it all?
Also I had all these questions to answer but one of them I have tried researcing and reading about but all the information I find about it is too heavy and I can't understand it. I would have asked my teacher but I am on half term at the moment, please help me.
The question was... What contribution did Semmelweiss make to the contro of infection?
I know this question is to do with human biology and diseases/infections but if you could help I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
Alexandra

Answer
Hi Alexandra  I have made an extensive study of Ignatz Semmelweiss so you have come to the right place.  He was an obstetrition in Vienna in the 1850s.  Doctors were dissecting cadavers of woman who died of puerpural or childbed fever and then examining healthy expectant mothers and giving them the disease. More then half of the women in labor died. No body knew about bacteria at this time.  Semmelwiess discovered that the transmission of the sickness could be prevente d by washing the hands.  In his clinic he practically wiped out childbed fever.  But he never could convince other doctors and he died a broken man.  He was clouded with guilt because
of the women he himself killed before he started hand washing. Today we know that this infection is caused by Strep.
You can find the story of this graet man in a book called "The Cry and the Covenant" By Morton Thompson