Haematologia 4. (1970)
1970 / 1. szám - Barta, I.: Farewell to Ludwig Heilmeyer (1899-1969)
Haematologia 4 (1), pp. 3—4 (1970) Farewell to Ludwig Heilmeyer (1899-1969) I have the sad task to say farewell to Professor L. Heilmeyer on behalf of the Hungarian Haematological Society as well as in my own name. My task is rendered difficult by the fact that I had the privilege to call myself his friend. We had become acquainted as young assistants of Weil’s department in Jena, in 1929. Then already Heilmeyer was an enthusiastic researcher, who believed in purposeful scientific work and this was what gave the essence of his life. His main interest then was haematology. He soon realized that a purely morphological trend was not to ensure the best results. Shortly he became aware of the importance of biochemical research in haematology but did not overlook the significance of functional morphology beside the biochemical approach and this was one of his great merits, and at the same time the key for his having been able to take stand in every question of general and clinical haematology. His first work of importance was the elaboration of a method for determining iron in blood, a procedure which then allowed to clarify many problems of iron deficiency, and the sideropenic and sideroachrestic anaemias. He was among the first to start laboratory investigations into porphyrin synthesis. In addition to the pathogenesis of porphyria erythropoietica he succeeded in elucidating a number of questions of the secondary disorders of porphyrin metabolism. His research involved megaloblastic anaemia, haemolytic diseases, the normal and pathological functions of the spleen. He described several bone marrow types in panmyelopathy. There was in fact no field in haematology in which he was not interested. His creative activity was not exhausted by analysis, but with the clinician’s logic he laid great stress upon synthesis. This aspect was always characteristic of his books, papers and lectures. Heilmeyer was not only an internationally known experimental haematologist but also an outstanding clinician. At his department one had the opportunity to become acquainted with its excellent spirit and organization, the close coordi Haematologia 4, 1970