Search

The article deals with the history of foundation and beginnings of the Institute of Physiology of the Medical Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava. In the school year 1924/25, after the Czechoslovak state university had been founded, the Physiological Institute began its work. The first director was prof. MUDr. Antonín Hanák. Under his leadership the basis of pedagogical and scientific activities in the Institute was established. In the school year 1926/27, Institute moved into the newly built rooms in Sasinková street No 2, where it has been located ever since. Professor Hanák had been working in Bratislava since 1924 till 1930. After his walk-off to Praha, professor MUDr. Vilém Hons became the head of the Institute. In the school year 1936/37 he was elected the dean of the Medical Faculty of Comenius University. He worked in Bratislava till 1939, when he was suspended from the service in the Slovak schools. Both Czech professors founded firm basis of physiology as a subject matter and as a scientific discipline in Slovakia.

In the history of the Medical Faculty of the Comenius University in Bratislava there are two personalities with great merits as regards the foundation and development of the Physiology department, both pupils of professor Mares--prof. MUDr. A. Hanák and prof. MUDr. V. Hons. Professor Hons to whom this article is devoted worked in Bratislava from 1930 to 1939. He influenced in an important way the development of the Institute of Physiology in the second decade of its existence and made significant advances in the field of teaching and research. As dean of the medical faculty in 1936-37 and assistant dean in 1937-38 he helped the Faculty to resolve some complicated problems; he opposed the pressure of the undemocratic forces and established and reinforced his relations with students in particular their most important organization--The Society of Czechoslovak Medical Students.

Changes in pulmonary ventilation and O2-consumption were studied during passive and active extension of both crura. The rate and extent of the movements were the same (1Hz). Thirty 21-year-old men (mean weight 72.5 kg, mean height 179 cm) were divided into 3 equal groups, namely controls, with passive movement, and with active movement. The trial consisted of three 11-12 minute periods--initial, period of movement, and recovery. In the control group movements were not performed. Passive movements were carried out by means of a special lever. Ventilation increased at active movements (12.42 +/- 2.731 compared to control values of 8.62 +/- 2.87). Oxygen consumption was increased during active movements (8.4 +/- 2.3 ml.kg-1.min-1 compared to 4.4 +/- 0.6), yet it was reduced during passive movements (3.5 ml compared to control values of 4.4 and initial values of 4.3 ml). The finding is accounted for by the rapid depression of the metabolic efficacy of isolated proprioceptive afferentation as a specific feature of conditioned reflex regulation of metabolism in man.