Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Text Carl G. Hempel

Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Text

Carl G. Hempel, Germany

(1905-1997)

b. Summarize the essay "Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Text"

The writer has presented a scientific inquiry conducted by one of the medical staffs of Vienna General Hospital from 1844 to 1848. He was Semmelweis who had gone through a long process of scientific inquiry regarding a question why in the First maternity Division to the Second Maternity Division of same hospital with similar facilities, diet, general care, etc. first division got more death ratio of Childbed Fever? The 111.4% was the maximum death rate of First Division while 2.7% in the Second.

Semmelweis with his colleagues started to do his inquiries. He asked why such fatal disease couldn't affect surrounding city Vienna or Second Division. Even the street birth death ratio was lower. In 1864 a report came accusing rough examination of medical students for the death in high number. Still he said the process of birth was more harmful and same style was followed by midwives in the Second Division. Though medical students were cut off (reduced) still death ratio was even higher.

Some psychological reason was given that due to ringing bell of priest that terrified people to have Childbed Fever in the First Division. Semmelweis experimented that still the death ratio was same. Another hypothesis was laying back birth style in the First Division and on their sides in the Second was not the cause. In 1847 when Semmelwesis's friend got wounded by one of the student doctors he was killed with similar symptoms. Cadaveric Matter from dead body infected the person to be killed. Most of staffs operating with dead bodies went directly with other patients so that contamination was the cause of death. In the Second Division midwives hadn't gone to operate with dead bodies. Semmelweis conducted an experiment himself with other doctor with protection to cancer affected women and normal washed up hands to next 12 women. As the results eleven womenwere killed due to childbed Fever out of twelve. Then the writer came to the conclusion that it was not one Cadaveric Material that caused to have 'Childbed Fever'.It could be because of damaged matter carried by living organism as well.

Interpretation: Thought this scientific chapter the writer wants to present the ideas about how a scientific inquiry is conducted how false reasons and hypotheses are refined and tested with actual established facts. In scientific discovery there come the processes of making hypothesis, testing, experimentation and drawing a factual conclusion. Sometimes in scientific inquiry chance or co-incidence plays an importance role to Semmelweis's friend was killed by knife's wound of one of the medical students. This chapter also highlights that success is sure if continuous practice is going on. It also teaches us.How can problems be solved by analyzing and explaining related reasons of the problem.