State Obstetric-Gynecological Institute of the People's Commissariat for Health in Leningrad

The State Obstetric and Gynaecological Institute for Advanced Medical Training is one of the oldest obstetric institutions in Russia: last year marked the 130th anniversary of its existence. In 1797, in the house of Countess Zubova, a "maternity hospital" for the poor was arranged, along with a maternity school for 22 pupils with a budget of 22,383 rubles. The first director of the hospital was Morengeim, and the professor of the maternity school was Beck, who lectured in German. In this more than modest institution in 1798 were authorized 22 women in childbirth, and then during the first 10 years on average annually allowed 30 women in childbirth. The grain thus thrown did not die, but grew into a mighty, multi-branched tree. In 1835, according to Gruber's design, a polyclinic was established at the Institute, and in 1844 an infirmary with 6 beds, which was the germ of the clinic at the recently established Department of Postpartum Diseases. At the head of the Institute stood the major obstetricians of their time, such as Hugenberger, Ettlinger and Balandin, who introduced from 1874 antiseptic and disinfection in childbirth (with soap and carbolic acid).