Activity of N. I. Pirogov during the Crimean war, 1853-1856.
The Crimean War of 1853-1856 is a full blown military conflict in which participated the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain and Sardinia. Ukraine, as a part of the Russian Empire, was involved in the conflict of Russia with other countries. The territory of Ukraine has become a theatre of war actions, where it’s human and material resources have been involved and the most tragic events of the war have happened.
In autumn, 1854 N. I. Pirogov freely went to the Crimea to the field force with a group of doctors. All his activity was pervaded by the desire to alleviate the suffering of the wounded. He impressed others with his work ethic, with his will to be in time to help.
The immortal Pirogov’s exploits in the war medicine are: the first in the world classification of the wounded and sick according to complexity and location of injury, organization of transportation departments, the use of ether anesthesia and immovable plaster cast, creation of the Institute of Nurses (Sisters of Mercy), organization of their work for the care of the wounded and sick.
The power of observation, stubborn struggle against ignorance and backwardness in organization of medicine gave Pirogov an opportunity to make undeniable conclusions about that “not medicine but administration plays a major role in providing medical assistance to the wounded and sick in the theatre of war”.
The exposition of this hall presents materials telling about the participation of American volunteer doctors in the war, Pirogov’s guidance of Krestovozdvizhenskaya Obschina (Community of Nurses) of Sisters of Mercy, his activity as Technical Director of Instrument plant and medical instruments. The paintings depict Pirogov’s patients such as a famous chemist Dmitri Mendeleev and a hero of Sevastopol defense sailor Petro Koshka.
Fragment of an exposition.
In the foreground a sculptural composition "Pirogov and the sailor". Sculptor V. M. Druzin.
