Azar H A
Department of Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA.
Ann Diagn Pathol. 1997 Oct;1(1):65-71. doi: 10.1016/s1092-9134(97)80010-x.
Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) is mainly remembered as the "father" of cellular pathology; however, he was not just a pathologist. His contributions to anthropology, archeology, ethnography, and history, as well as his involvement in epidemiology, public health, and politics, portray a man with multiple interests, deeply engaged in the controversies of his time. In his Report on the Typhus Epidemics of Upper Silesia of 1848, the young Virchow reveals himself to be a self-assured pathologist, although his postmortem examinations failed to shed much light on typhus. Despite of his shortcomings and biases, Virchow's genius is revealed in his deep appreciation of the importance of the total physical, socio-cultural, economic, and political background of epidemic diseases. One can discern in the Report the making of Virchow, the politician and statesman who will contribute to the modernization of Germany's public health, and of the physician-scholar and physician-citizen who, despite of his shortcomings and militancy, continues to inspire and challenge us today.
鲁道夫·魏尔啸（1821 - 1902）主要被人们铭记为细胞病理学的“奠基人”；然而，他不仅仅是一名病理学家。他在人类学、考古学、民族志和历史领域都有贡献，还涉足流行病学、公共卫生和政治领域，展现出一个兴趣广泛、深度参与当时诸多争议的人。在他1848年关于上西里西亚斑疹伤寒疫情的报告中，年轻的魏尔啸展现出自信的病理学家形象，尽管他的尸检未能对斑疹伤寒有太多深入了解。尽管有缺点和偏见，但魏尔啸的卓越之处在于他深刻认识到流行病的整体身体、社会文化、经济和政治背景的重要性。从这份报告中可以看出魏尔啸作为政治家和国务活动家的成长历程，他为德国公共卫生现代化做出了贡献，也能看到作为医生学者和公民医生的他，尽管有缺点和好斗的一面，但至今仍激励并挑战着我们。
