Research and science in medicine at the University of Tartu, 1802–1940: A forgotten era in the history of medicine — Review article

Abstract

In November 1986, Ilo Kabin, M. D., defended his thesis in the history of medicine at the University of Lund, Sweden. His thesis, written in German, is a voluminous book (629 pages with numerous photographs and illustrations) about the research and developments in medical sciences which took place at the University of Tartu, Estonia, over a period of 138 years from 1802 to 1940. The monograph presents interesting data on research accomplished by the faculty members and graduates of the School of Medicine at Tartu in the last century and during the first 40 years of this century. The groundwork leading to many important discoveries in medicine was laid in Tartu more than a century ago, and in some areas the faculty members of this medical school were pioneers for the development of modern medicine. As introduction, the author gives a short overview of the history and geography of Estonia and the site of the University of Tartu. This is of great importance because most people no longer know where Estonia is; and there are probably not many people who know that the University of Tartu is four years older than Harvard University it was founded in 1632, by Gustav the Second Adolf, the King of Sweden. Kabin divides the 138-year period in the history of the School of Medicine in Tartu into two eras: the more important and longer period under the Russian rule from 1802 to 1918, and a short 22 year period during the independence of Estonia from 1919-1940. He stops here because of limitations of academic freedom during Soviet occupation of Estonia (1940-1941), the following three years