Genius Belabored

Obenchain traces the life of 19th century Hungarian obstetrician who was shunned and marginalized by colleagues for promoting a visionary but unorthodox origin of childbed fever, (puerperal fever). In an era preceding the germ theory hygienic measures were virtually non-existent. New mothers in particular contracted and died from puerperal fever. Semmelweis suspected that better hygienic measures could prevent these tragic deaths. But, surrounded by ignorance and complacency, the admittedly ecce