Hungarian doctor and scientist, pioneer of antiseptic procedures, characterized as ‘savior of mothers’.
He discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever could be reduced by the use of hand antiseptics in maternity clinics.
Puerperal fever was common in hospitals in the 19th century and quite deadly. This is why he suggested hand washing with calcium chloride solutions.
But this practice was accepted several years after his death when other scientists were able to prove it.
He died in 1865 aged 47 in an asylum after suffering a nervous breakdown.
[Source: en.wikipedia.org]
