Answer to Question #47819 in Biology for dafne

Question

1. what observation did ignaz semmelweis make in the obstetrical clinic that he was hired to run in vienna, austria in 1846?
2. why did expectant mother not want to deliver their babies in vienna general hospitals first obstetrical clinic?

Answer 1

1. Ignaz Semmelweis noticed that cases of puerperal fever occur when doctors who performed autopsies, then go to examine patients and assist in childbirth. He decided that doctors have ’’cadaverous particles’’ on their hands which cause childbirth fever. As result, he proposed washing of hands with solution of calcium hypochlorite between working with cadavers and examination of patients.
2. The mothers did not want to deliver their babies in Vienna general hospitals first obstetrical clinic because they knew about high mortality rate there, so, many women preferred to deliver their babies in the street than in this hospital.