Zwei offene Briefe an Dr. J. Spaeth, Professor der Geburtshilfe an der k. k. Josefs-Akademie in Wien, und an Hofrath Dr. F. W. Scanzoni, Professor der Geburtshilfe zu Würzburg

In the middle of the 19th‑century medical world, a determined obstetrician writes two open letters to leading professors in Vienna and Würzburg. He confronts the prevailing teaching on “childbed fever,” insisting that the prevailing curriculum fails to explain the true nature of the disease that claims countless mothers’ lives.

Drawing on his own observations from the Vienna maternity clinic, he presents stark mortality figures that reveal a pattern of deaths linked to a hidden, infectious cause. He argues that the fever stems from the resorption of decomposed organic material in the blood—a process set in motion by contaminated hands and instruments—rather than the organ‑specific inflammations traditionally blamed. By exposing this overlooked source, he urges his colleagues to adopt simple, hygienic measures that could dramatically reduce the tragedy.

The letters offer a vivid snapshot of a pivotal moment when scientific rigor began to challenge entrenched medical dogma, inviting listeners to hear the early, impassioned plea for change that would reshape obstetric practice.