title: [Role of pathologists in the besieged city of Leningrad (1941-1943)].
abstract: The siege of Leningrad by fascist German troops (1941-1942) resulted in an acute food shortage which lead to severe malnutrition in the population and amongst military personnel. In the face of severe nutritional deficiency the majority of illnesses demonstrated a completely atypical clinical course and were thus difficult to diagnose. The results of autopsy first revealed the true underlying cause of death in many cases of bacterial dysentery, atypical pneumonia, generalized tuberculosis and vitamin deficiency in severely emaciated patients. As a result of the work of the Leningrad pathologists, many of whom themselves fell victim to starvation and illness, it was possible to improve the diagnosis and therapy of many disease with atypical courses. Moreover it was possible to institute preventive measures against the spread of epidemics. The overriding lesson from the bitter experience of the Leningrad pathologists is that keeping the peace must be the highest priority of all peoples and for every physician.
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Chmelnizkij
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000266:history*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000266:history; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000266:history*; D014586:USSR
vernacular_title: Zur Rolle der Pathologen im belagerten Leningrad (1941-1943).