Mykola IVanovich Pirogov

Mykola Ivanovich Pirogov was a prominent Russian scientist, doctor, and pedagogue. He was born in Moscow in 1810. He is considered to be the most famous personality in the history of Russian medicine and the greatest of all Russian surgeons.

        Pirogov was the 13-th child in the family. His father died in 1824, leaving his family without means. M. Pirogov intended to become a civil servant. However, the family doctor Efrem Mukhin, who was a professor of anatomy and physiology at Moscow University, persuaded the authorities to accept him as a student of the Medical Faculty of Moscow University in 1825, even though Pirogov was only fourteen.

Pirogov decided to specialize as a surgeon when he completed his studies in 1828. He was sent to Dorpat (now Tartu) to complete further studies. In 1832 he defended his doctor’s thesis.

He travelled in Germany, visiting the Universities of Berlin and Göttingen to observe the state of surgery, and became a professor at the German University of Dorpat in 1836, aged only 26.

In 1840 Pirogov took up an appointment as professor of surgery at the academy of military medicine in Saint Petersburg.

Pirogov worked as an army surgeon in the Caucasian war in 1847, in the Crimean war in 1854, in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, and in the Russian-Turkish war in 1877. From his work in the Crimea, he is considered to be the father of field surgery.

Pirogov also originated the intravenous administration of ether as an anesthetic. He was the first surgeon to use anesthesia in a field operation. From 1848 he conducted an important investigation of cholera, based on almost 800 sections.

Pirogov’s work during the Crimean War is of such importance that he is considered to be the founder of field surgery. Pirogov was the first to use the plaster cast in field conditions. He conceived the technique of plaster casting while observing the work of a sculptor.

At that time Pirogov also developed a new method for amputation of the foot, known as the “Pirogov’s amputation”.

He returned to Saint Petersburg after the end of the Crimean war in 1856, but withdrew from the academy. He wrote a paper on the problems of pedagogy, arguing for the education of the poor, non-Russians, and women. While living in Odessa, Pirogov resided at Deribasovskaya, 31 and first suggested the formation of Odessa State Medical University (as the medical faculty of Novorossiysk University).

In 1861 he retired to his estate in Vishnya in central Ukraine. He treated the local peasants, established a clinic, and learnt the Ukrainian language as a show of respect. Now the Pirogov Museum exists at his former estate.

 

Exercise 5. Answer the following questions:

1. Who was M. I. Pirogov?

2. When and where was he born?

3. At what age did he become a professor?

4. Why is Pirogov considered to be the father of field surgery?

5. What did Pirogov develop while observing the work of a sculptor?

6. What disease did Pirogov investigate?

7. What exists at the place of Pirogov’s former estate?

 

Exercise 6. Translate into English:

Мати намір стати державним службовцем, завершити подальше навчання, захистити докторську дисертацію, воєнна медицина, польова хірургія, гіпсова пов’зка, працювати в якості військового хірурга, запропонувати створення медичного факультету, заснувати клініку, знак поваги, освіта для бідних.

 

Exercise 7. Match the terms with their explanations:

1.	Surgery	a)	a liquid used as an anesthetic
2.	Aorta	b)	the removal of any part of the body
3.	Anesthesia	c)	the branch of medicine that treats injuries or diseases by operation
4.	Amputation	d)	an acute infectious disease affecting the small intestine
5.	Cholera	e)	the main artery of the body
6.	Ether	f)	the technique of reducing an individual’s sensation of pain

 

 Exercise 8. Put up questions to the underlined words:

1. Efrem Mukhin persuaded the authorities to accept Pirogov as a student at the age of 14.

2. His father died in 1824.

3. Pirogov worked as an army surgeon in the Crimean War.

4. From 1836 to 1840 Pirogov worked at the German University of Dorpat.

5. His experience in field surgery became well-known abroad.

6. Pirogov performed 12,000 dissections.

7. He treated the local peasants.

8. Pirogov originated the intravenous administration of ether.

Exercise 9. Use verbs in brackets in proper tense forms. Translate:

1. M.I.Pirogov (to be) a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of sciences.

2. Pirogov (to be) a heavy smoker and (to die) of cancer.

3. To prevent infections Pirogov (to use) substances which (to be) still in use today.

4. Pirogov (to treat) Giuseppe Garibaldi for a trauma of his foot.

5. In 1840 the minister Kleinminchel (to invite) Pirogov to work in St. Petersburg.

6. Later Pirogov (to test) and (to begin) using another anesthetic – chloroform.

7. The Pirogov Museum (to exist) in Vinnitsa now.

 

Extecise 10. Put the verbs in brackets into the Past Simple Active or Passive:

1. Pirogov’s lectures (to attend) not only by medical students, but also by other people.

2. Newspapers (to dedicate) him articles, comparing the surgeon’s lectures with Italian singer.

3. The surgeon (to accept) all appointments in hospitals, consulting local medics.

4. Pirogov’s project of first Anatomy Institute in the world (to approve) by the tsar.

5. He (to invent) equipment for performing fast and accurate surgical operations.

6. As soon as Nikolay Pirogov (to send) to Caucasus, he (to start) performing surgery on wounded soldiers.

7. His activities (to provoke) a conflict with authorities, and Pirogov (to force) to leave his position.

 

Exercise 11. Insert prepositions:

1. … the age …14 Pirogov entered the faculty of medicine in Moscow State University.

2. The boy got a position … prosector … local anatomy theatre.

3. The job gave him experience … anatomy and promoted his desire to become a surgeon.

4. Pirogov graduated … the university among best students.

5. The young man spent 5 years … local surgery clinic and brilliantly defended his PhD, becoming Doctor of Medicine.

6. His dissertation was dedicated … abdominal aorta bandaging.

7. The surgeon went … France, and … 1841 was invited to head surgery department … St. Petersburg Academy … Surgery and Medicine.

8. … his clinic the medic founded another branch … medical science – hospital surgery.

Exercise 12. Tell about M.I. Pirogov according to the plan:   

- Pirogov’s family

- Studies of the future scientist

- Pirogov’s investigations and achievements