Beekeepers:

Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was born July 1, 1818. In 1844 he received his
doctor’s degree and was appointed assistant at the obstetric clinic in
Vienna. At this period in time puerperal fever was claiming the lives of
many women who gave birth in European hospitals. Some thought the infection
was caused by overcrowding, poor ventilation, the onset of lactation, or
simply was the result of *miasma*.

He proceeded to investigate the cause over the strong objections of his
chief, who like many other physicians at that time, had reconciled himself
to the idea that the cause was unpreventable. Semmelweis observed the death
rate was 2 to 3 times higher in the first division as in the second
division of the clinic. Both divisions in the clinic were essentially the
same with the exception that students were taught in the first whereas
midwives were taught in the second. He concluded that since students were
coming directly from dissecting rooms to the maternity ward they carried
the infection with them.

Semmelweis implemented a program directing that hands be washed in a
solution of chlorinated lime. Mortality rates dropped from over 18 percent
to just over 1 percent, and in some months no deaths occurred. Younger
medical men recognized the significance. His superior, however, remained
critical.

In 1861, his principal work was published as (translated) “Etiology,
Understanding, and Prevention of Childbed Fever”. Generally the reaction
was unfavorable. At a conference of German physicians and scientists most
speakers rejected his doctrine.

Semmelweis died a broken man  in 1865.

I have no idea if Doctor Semmelweis was a beekeeper or not.

Regards,
Dick Allen