[The role of Orvosi Hetilap in the development of Hungarian gastroenterology. Part 2: 1905-1944].

UNLABELLED: The editions of Orvosi Hetilap published between 1857 and 1905 covered most of the contemporary aspects of digestive diseases. Most of knowledge was transferred from German, French and English literature.

AIM: Evaluation of the papers dealing with the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract published in Orvosi Hetilap between 1905 and 1944.

METHOD: The author manually reviewed the journal volumes published between 1905 and 1944. The original articles, journal and book reviews were identified and classified according to their subject and origin. The rate of publications of the editorial periods (1857 and 1904 vs 1905 and 1944) was statistically compared with that of certain historical periods (World Wars I and II, the years following the Trianon treaty).

RESULTS: Between 1905 and 1944, a total of 1101 original articles were published about the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, constituting 10.3% of the total publications. The rate of publications was decreased during World Wars I and II and the years following the Trianon treaty. The most studied diseases were that of the stomach and duodenum (21%), while hepatologic studies accounted for 16.4%. The proportion of basic science studies (anatomy, pathology, physiology) decreased to 3%. Endoscopy was studied in only 1.4% of the publications, while gastrointestinal radiology, as a newcomer, achieved a figure of 3.2%. 1695 publications were reviewed from 112 journals, constituting a significant increase as compared to the previous period. 74.6% of the reviews were published in 15 core journals. 57.1% of the journals were German, 19.6% were English/American and 16.9% French, showing the persistence of the major German influence. The number of book reviews slightly decreased from 116 to 95. Peptic ulcers were the most studied disease of the period and several alternative treatments were tried, all of which are now obsolete.

CONCLUSION: The rate of gastroenterologic publications in Orvosi Hetilap increased considerably in 1905-1944, as compared to the prior period. The main sources of knowledge remained the German literature. Diseases of the stomach and duodenum, including peptic ulcers, were studied in most detail. The development of endoscopy was overshadowed by the emergence of radiology.