Henryk Kadyi's preparatory techniques - exploring anatomical traditions of Vienna, Krakow and Lviv.

Abstract

Henryk Kadyi's (1851-1912) work in anatomical research is closely related to researching fundamental problems of preserving anatomic specimens for science and teaching. The goal of this study is to describe the professional life of Henryk Kadyi, to highlight his achievements for modern anatomy and to use his story to demonstrate the importance of mentoring, international scientific communication and cross border cooperations for scientific success. The development of novel conservation methods gained him enormous respect of the scientific community and secured him a place in the history of medicine. Kadyi was educated in Vienna and shaped by Hyrtl and Langer. He then started residency in Krakow, where he was supervised by Teichmann, a disciple of Hyrtl. There, he received a call for professorship in Lviv. At each location, he was influence by local conditions, which improved his anatomical skills. This is a good example of the interconnection of knowledge, skills, scholarship, and scientific tradition between academic centers - in this case, Vienna, Krakow, and Lviv in the second half of the 19th century. Our paper focuses on Kadyi's preparatory techniques with a particular emphasis on the influence that the education and skills acquired in Vienna and Krakow had on them and how they were shaped when Kadyi was already an independent researcher in Lviv.