Daniel Fisher

* Késmárk, November 4, 1695 – † Debrecen, September 1746, 1864 / doctor, naturalist; ; His father, Mihály Fischer, was a Lutheran pastor in Késmárk. He began his primary school education in his hometown. He studied medicine at the University of Wittenberg from 1713 to 1718. After receiving his degree, he returned to his homeland and settled in Késmárk, where he became the city's physician. He was later appointed chief physician of Szepes and Liptó counties. Sometime around 1721, he moved to Liptószentmiklós. Count Mihály Csáky, Bishop of Oradea and later Prince-Primate of Esztergom, asked him to be his family physician and invited him to Oradea. Once, he traveled from Várad to Debrecen, and on the way, he ate fish in a restaurant, which made him sick and he died upon arriving in Debrecen. Dániel Fischer was a versatile scientist, and in addition to medicine, he also dealt with pharmacy, mineralogy and alchemy. He is credited with numerous medicinal products, some of which are truly effective, but some are simply laughable. For example, the bezoar stone (Pulvis Besoardicus Kesmarkiensis), which is formed in the stomachs of sick chamois. ; The Persian term bezoar means antidote, which is why bezoar stones were recommended in cases of poisoning. Fischer also examined the composition of stalactites and found that sulfuric acid (vitriol) dissolves them. At the same time, he assumed that they also contain sulfur, which he believed purifies and makes salts easily crystallized. He also wrote a book about the soil that ensures the excellent properties of Tokaj wine. In addition to his many valuable observations, he also put down several erroneous statements on paper (e.g., according to him, the warming of the air is not caused by the Sun, but by the decomposition of pyrite in the soil). He started a medical school in Késmárk, but this proved to be short-lived. In 1732, he published an appeal in which he urged the launch of a Hungarian natural science journal and the establishment of a scientific society. Mátyás Bél called for cooperation, but Fischer declined the invitation, presumably because he was also interested in the idea of an enterprise that would present Hungary in its many aspects. The journal he planned was also intended to realize this idea. He was a very prolific author, and his anatomical works and works on the benefits of baths in particular had a great influence on his contemporaries. ; ; His main works: ; Relatio ex Philosophia naturali de fulgure, tonitru et fulmine, nec non phaenomeno Kesmarkini viso, 1717, ; Commentationes physicae de calore atmosphaerico non a Sole, sed a pyrite feruente deducendo, 1722, ; De Terra medicinali Tokajiensi, a chymicis quibusdam pro solari habita. Tractatus medico-chemicus, 1732, ; Consilium pestilentiale, oder Medizinisches Gutachten von der Pest, derer Indole, progagatione und difference von anderen hitzigen Fiebern, wie ; auch praeservation und Cur mit historischer Feder erfösfen, 1740.