Scientific
Inquiry: Invention and Text
Carl G. Hempel, Germany
(1905-1997)
b. Summarize the essay "Scientific Inquiry: Invention
and Text"
The writer has presented a
scientific inquiry conducted by one of the medical staffs of Vienna General
Hospital from 1844 to 1848. He was Semmelweis
who had gone through a long process of scientific inquiry regarding a question
why in the First maternity Division to the Second Maternity Division of same
hospital. With similar facilities, diet, general care, etc. Why first division
got more death ratio of Childbed Fever? the 111.4% was the maximum death rate
of First Division while 2.7% in the Second.
Semmelweis with his
colleagues started to do his inquiries. He asked why such fatal disease
couldn't affect surrounding city Vienna or Second Division. Even the street
birth death ratio was lower. in 1864 a report came accusing rough examination
of medical students for the death in high number. Still he said the process of
birth was more harmful and same style was followed by midwives in the Second
Division. Through medical students were cut off (reduced) Still death ratio was
even higher.
Some psychological reason
was given that due to ringing bell of priest that terrified people to have
Childbed Fever in the First Division. Semmelweis experimented that still he
death ratio was same. Another hypothesis was laying back birth style in the
First Division and on their sides in the Second was not the cause. in 1847 when
Semmelwesis's friend got wounded by one of the student doctors he was killed
with similar symptoms. Cadaveric Matter from dead body infected the person to
be killed. Most of staffs operating with dead bodies went directly with other
patients so that contamination was the cause of death. In the Second Division
midwives hadn't gone to operate with dead bodies. Semmelweis conducted an
experiment himself with other doctor with protection to cancer affected women
and normal washed up hands to next 12 women. As the results eleven women. were
killed due to childbed Fever out of twelve. Then the writer came to the
conclusion that it was not one Cadaveric Material that caused to have 'Childbed
Fever' it could be because of damaged matter carried by living organism as well.
Interpretation: Thought this scientific chapter the writer wants to
present the ideas about how a scientific inquiry is conducted how false reasons
and hypotheses are refined and tested with actual established facts. In
scientific discovery there comes the processes of making hypothesis, testing
experimentation and drawing a factual conclusion. Sometimes in scientific
inquiry chance or co-incidence plays an importance role to semmelweis's friend
was killed by knife's wound of one of the medical students. This chapter also
highlights that success is sure if continuous practice is going on. It also
teaches us how can problems be solved by analyzing and explaining related
reasons of the problem.
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