Post by Big Biology

Ignaz Semmelweis (1818 - 1865), a Hungarian medical doctor and scientist dubbed the "savior of mothers" and pioneer of modern antiseptic practices, was also ostracized, rejected, and eventually committed to an asylum. Despite his revolutionary changes to bedside care, Semmelweis' ideas for better hygiene practices faced heavy scrutiny and were not implemented until nearly 20 years after his initial discovery. To find out why, check out our recent episode with Matt Kaplan, author of "I Told You So! Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right"

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