Mark Rylance play: Who was Dr. Semmelweis and what did he discover?

Dr Semmelweis

Harold Pinter Theatre, London, UK

From 29 June

Who was Dr Semmelweis?

In Vienna in 1846, ladies anticipating a child have been admitted to town’s basic hospital for his or her labour. However the hospital had two clinics: a First Clinic, attended by docs, and a Second Clinic, attended by midwives.

The clinics admitted on alternate days, however ladies getting into labour fervently hoped to be attended by the midwives. Some, on arrival to the hospital, fell to their knees and …