Editing Ignaz

'''Ignaz Semmelweis''' (1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865) was a Hungarian physician and scientist, now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. His discovery of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics significantly reduced puerperal fever mortality rates. He published his findings in ''Etiology, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever''.

== Early life and education ==
Semmelweis was born on 1 July 1818 in [[Buda]], now part of [[Budapest]], Hungary. He started his studies in law at the [[University of Vienna]] in 1837, but by the following year, he had switched to medicine. He was awarded his doctorate degree in medicine in 1844.

== Career ==
Semmelweis's early career was as an assistant to professor [[Johann Klein]] in the First Obstetrical Clinic of the Vienna General Hospital. His observations led him to conclude that puerperal fever, a type of [[sepsis]], could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics.

== Death and legacy ==
Semmelweis died on 13 August 1865 at the age of 47. Despite his groundbreaking work, his ideas were largely ignored, rejected, or ridiculed. Today, however, he is recognized as a pioneer of antiseptic policy and has even been referred to as the "savior of mothers".

== See also ==
* [[History of medicine]]
* [[Medical hygiene]]
* [[Puerperal fever]]

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ignaz-Semmelweis Britannica Biography: Ignaz Semmelweis]

[[Category:Hungarian physicians]]
[[Category:Medical hygiene]]
[[Category:History of medicine]]
[[Category:Antisepsis]]

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