János Balassa (1815–1868) was a surgeon, university professor, and one of the leading personalities of the Hungarian medical society at the time. He was also an internationally recognized authority within the field of plastic surgery.Benedek 1983b:107 Professor of Surgery (1843-) at the

University of Pest A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Univ ...

(

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

). János Balassa was a pioneer of cardiac resuscitation (CPR) and carried out the first reported case of external heart massage. In the aftermath of the failed

Hungarian Revolution of 1848 The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also known in Hungary as Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849 () was one of many Revolutions of 1848, European Revolutions of 1848 and was closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in ...

where Hungary sought independence from the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...

, he was temporarily removed from his professorship and imprisoned by the

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout Europe d ...

authorities. Balassa was

Ignaz Semmelweis Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (; ; 1 July 1818 – 13 August 1865) was a Hungarian physician and scientist of German descent who was an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures and was described as the "saviour of mothers". Postpartum infections, ...

's colleague and house doctor. He was in the medical commission that referred Semmelweis to a mental institution, other members were

János Bókai * János Bókai Sr. (''né Bock,'' 1822–1884) doctor * János Bókay Jr. (''né Bókai,'' 1858–1937) doctor {{disambig ...

and Wagner.Benedek 1983a:292

References

Sources

* * * 1810s births 1868 deaths Burials at Kerepesi Cemetery Physicians from the Austrian Empire Surgeons Members of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences {{Hungary-academic-bio-stub