Comment on Ferenczi and Schachter

Who would have believed that a surgeon could contribute to the development of Hungarian psychoanalysis? Are there any fields within medical science so remote from each other as surgery and psychology?

In his obituary to Miksa Schachter (Ferenczi 1917), which contained many autobiographical remarks, Sandor Ferenczi - famous Hungarian psychoanalyst, one of the closest associates of Freud - says farewell to the editor-in-chief of Gyogyaszat. Who was this man who had such a great influence on young Ferenczi, and to whom he addressed the following words (Ferenczi 1917):

I felt that his personality could be compared to a single piece of perfect marble free of fractures or fault … It was truly a period which shaped my character.

Five years after finishing his medical studies, Miksa (Maximilian) Schachter became the owner and editor-in-chief of Gyogyaszat at the age of 27 in 1886. At that time the Hungarian medical community had two medical journals: Orvosi Hetilap (Medical Weekly) for the leading circles and well-known for its conservative attitude; and Gyogyaszat, representing an opposing position, founded by an editor quitting the former's editorial board in 1861. Gyogyaszat was intended to be a forum of ‘the progress of Hungarian and international medicine, especially that of medical practice’. The journal edited by Schachter resembled the British Medical Journal. Main topics were always introduced by editorials; not only medical papers and book reviews, but also writings covering the problems of medical public life were published.

Schachter was just over thirty when he started work as a clerk in the newly-founded Council of Forensic Medicine and devoted his life to fighting against unethical medical practices. People were struck by Schachter's deeply humanistic thinking, openmindedness and courageous stand in matters he believed true. Schachter's parents wanted him to become a Rabbi and he was educated accordingly. He spoke Hebrew, had substantial knowledge of Judaism and