[The work of Jovan Andrejević as a medical student in Vienna--his contribution to anatomy and histology].

During the fifties of the 19th century, a Serb from Novi Sad, Jovan Andrejevitsh, was completing his studies at the Medical University in Vienna. Jovan Andrejevitsh was born on November 6, 1833, in Novi Sad. His father was a priest. He attended primary school in Novi Sad. According to one of his biohraphers, proffesor Sanditsh, Andrejevitsh graduated from high school in Temishvar, where he got his high school diploma on July 30, 1853. As a student, Joles, nick name, he got from his friends, was popula among students of his age and one of the student leaders in the high school in Temishvar. In high school, he started his literature work which he continued till the end of his life. He spoke several languages and worked as a translator and literary critic. Ten days after his high school graduation (October 10, 1853). Andrejevitsh was enrolled in the Medical University in Peshta. Soon after, he continued his studies in Vienna, where he graduated on May 16, 1861. After he graduated from the university he returned to Novi Sad, where he was presented in the City Hall by a Council Member, doctor Jovan Jovanovitsh Zmaj, famous Serbian poet. While still a medical student in Vienna, he published his articles under pseudonym "a Serb from Vienna", mainly because he was being kept under surveillance by the Viennese police authorities for his support of Svetozar Miletitsh's program. As a medical studen, he soared above other students with his talent, intelligence, exams results and specially with his thirst for scientific work. During his studies at the Medical University he showed special interest in physiology. This interest was noticed by professor R. Ernest Bricke) who appointed him for his assistant. While working at that institute, Andrejevitsh, still a student, published his work "About the Fine Structure of Liver" (Uber den feineren Ban den Leber) showing that: "the small channels in liver are a part of the biliary tract, biliary capillaries do not touch blood capillaries...." [3]. How Andrejevitsh's scientific paper was accepted at that time can well be seen from an announcement of the Viennese Royal Academy of Science (XVIII, vol I, 1861) where it was emphasized: "With this knowledge, the anatomy and physiology of liver get quite a different perspective". This work was often quoted by well known scientists, such as: a physiologist professor Rotel (from Graz), then Kolliker) from Verteburg and Malashot, who quoted Andrejevitsh in one chapter of his book about liver (Histology-IV ed. Leipzig, 1863). The real value of Andrejevitsh's work is clearly shown in personal correspondence between Andrejevitsh and his professor Bricke, which continued even after he graduated from the university. Three letters have been preserved in the Archives of the Serbian Medical Society as document "of the history of our medicine", as emphasized by a well known merchant from Belgrade, Vitkovitsh, who presented it to the Serbian Medical Society as a gift. The letters have been published in the Serbian Archive, 1895. In his first letter, on November 25, 1861, professor Bricke wrote to dr Jovan Andrejevitsh: "... I was very glad to receive good news about you and to hear that you have become Esculap of your home country so quickly. I sent separate copies of your study to all anatomists and physiologists I am keeping in touch with...." From Bricke's second letter, written on July 23, 1862, which was sent to dr Andrejevitsh in Novi Sad, we can see that: "... from the Ferber university book shop in Gissen, I received another 36 copies of your article, and Henley was asking for one of those copies to see that he was wrong in his beliefs." According to professor Bricke this copy of Andrejevitsh's work was sent to several universities in Europe, along with his work "About elementary organisms". (ABSTRACT