Vinnitsa, Ukraine. The well-known Russian surgeon Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov lived and worked here in the Cherry estate for 20 years.

On December 25, 1897, the work of A.I. Kuprin "A wonderful doctor (true incident)", which begins with the lines: "The following story is not the fruit of idle fiction. Everything I have described really happened in Kiev about thirty years ago…”, which immediately puts the reader in a serious mood: after all, we perceive real stories closer to our hearts and are more worried about the characters.

So, this story was told to Alexander Ivanovich by a familiar banker, who, by the way, is also one of the heroes of the book. Real basis the story is no different from what the author portrayed.

“The Miraculous Doctor” is a work about the amazing philanthropy, about the mercy of a famous doctor who did not strive for fame, did not expect honors, but only selflessly provided assistance to those who needed it here and now.

The meaning of the name

Secondly, no one, except Pirogov, wanted to lend a helping hand to people in need, passers-by replaced the bright and clean message of Christmas with the pursuit of discounts, profitable goods and holiday foods. In this atmosphere, the manifestation of virtue is a miracle that can only be hoped for.

Genre and direction

“The Miraculous Doctor” is a story, or to be more precise, a Christmas, or Christmas, story. By all the laws of the genre, the heroes of the work find themselves in a difficult life situation: troubles fall one after another, there is not enough money, which is why the characters even think about taking their own lives. Only a miracle can help them. It becomes a miracle chance meeting with a doctor who, in one evening, helps them overcome life's difficulties. The work “The Miraculous Doctor” has a bright ending: good triumphs over evil, the state of spiritual decline is replaced by hopes for a better life. However, this does not prevent us from referring this work to a realistic direction, because everything that happened in it is pure truth.

The action of the story takes place on the eve of the holidays. Decorated Christmas trees peep out of the shop windows, there is an abundance of delicious food everywhere, laughter is heard on the streets, and the ear catches the cheerful conversations of people. But somewhere, very near, poverty, grief and despair reign. And all these human troubles on the bright holiday of the Nativity of Christ are illuminated by a miracle.

Composition

The whole work is built on contrasts. At the very beginning, two boys are standing in front of a bright shop window, a festive spirit is in the air. But when they go home, everything around becomes gloomy: old crumbling houses are everywhere, and their own dwelling is located in the basement. While people in the city are preparing for the holiday, the Mertsalovs do not know how to make ends meet just to survive. There is no talk of a holiday in their family. This sharp contrast allows the reader to feel the desperate situation in which the family found itself.

It is worth noting the contrast among the heroes of the work. The head of the family turns out to be a weak person who is no longer able to solve problems, but is ready to run away from them: he is thinking about suicide. Professor Pirogov, on the other hand, is presented to us as an incredibly strong, cheerful and positive hero who, with his kindness, saves the Mertsalov family.

essence

In the story "The Wonderful Doctor" A.I. Kuprin tells about how human kindness and indifference to one's neighbor can change life. The action takes place approximately in the 60s of the 19th century in Kiev. The atmosphere of magic and the approaching holiday reigns in the city. The work begins with the fact that two boys, Grisha and Volodya Mertsalov, happily stare at the shop window, joke and laugh. But it soon turns out that their family has big problems: they live in the basement, there is a catastrophic lack of money, their father was driven from work, their sister died six months ago, and now the second one, Mashutka, is very ill. Everyone is desperate and seems ready for the worst.

That evening, the father of the family goes to beg, but all attempts are in vain. He walks into a park, where he talks about the hard life of his family, and he begins to have suicidal thoughts. But fate turns out to be favorable, and in this very park Mertsalov meets a man who is destined to change his life. They go home to an impoverished family, where the doctor examines Mashutka, prescribes the necessary medicines for her, and even leaves a large sum of money. He does not give a name, considering what he did as his duty. And only by the signature on the prescription does the family know that this doctor - famous professor Pirogov.

Main characters and their characteristics

The story involves a small number of characters. In this work for A.I. Kuprin, the wonderful doctor himself, Alexander Ivanovich Pirogov, is important.

1. Pirogov- famous professor, surgeon. He knows the approach to any person: he looks at the father of the family so attentively and interestedly that he almost immediately inspires confidence in him, and he tells about all his troubles. Pirogov does not need to think about whether to help or not. He heads home to the Mertsalovs, where he does his best to save desperate souls. One of Mertsalov's sons, already an adult man, remembers him and calls him a saint: "... that great, powerful and holy thing that lived and burned in the wonderful doctor during his lifetime died out irretrievably."
2. Mertsalov- a man broken by adversity, who is gnawed by his own impotence. Seeing the death of his daughter, the despair of his wife, the deprivation of the rest of the children, he is ashamed of his inability to help them. The doctor stops him on the way to a cowardly and fatal act, saving, first of all, his soul, which was ready to sin.

Themes

The main themes of the work are mercy, compassion and kindness. The Mertsalov family is doing everything possible to cope with the troubles that have piled up. And in a moment of despair, fate sends them a gift: Dr. Pirogov turns out to be a real magician who, with his indifference and sympathy, heals their crippled souls.

He does not stay in the park when Mertsalov loses his temper: being a man of incredible kindness, he listens to him and immediately does his best to help. We do not know how many such acts Professor Pirogov committed in his life. But you can be sure that in his heart lived a great love for people, indifference, which turned out to be a saving straw for an unfortunate family, which he extended at the most necessary moment.

Problems

A. I. Kuprin in this short story raises such universal problems as humanism and loss of hope.

Professor Pirogov personifies philanthropy, humanism. The problems of strangers are not alien to him, and he takes the help of his neighbor for granted. He does not need gratitude for what he has done, he does not need glory: it is only important that people around him fight and not lose faith in the best. This becomes his main wish to the Mertsalov family: "... and most importantly - never lose heart." However, the entourage of the heroes, their acquaintances and colleagues, neighbors and just passers-by - all turned out to be indifferent witnesses of someone else's grief. They did not even think that someone's disaster concerned them, they did not want to show humanity, thinking that they were not authorized to correct social injustice. This is the problem: no one cares about what is happening around, except for one person.

Despair is also described in detail by the author. It poisons Mertsalov, deprives him of the will and strength to move on. Under the influence of sorrowful thoughts, he descends to a cowardly hope for death, while his family perishes from hunger. The feeling of hopelessness dulls all other feelings and enslaves a person who is able to feel sorry only for himself.

Meaning

What is the main idea of ​​A. I. Kuprin? The answer to this question lies precisely in the phrase that Pirogov says when leaving the Mertsalovs: never lose heart.

Even in the darkest times, one must hope, seek, and if there is no strength left at all, wait for a miracle. And it does happen. With the most ordinary people on one frosty, say, winter day: the hungry become full, the cold become warm, the sick recover. And these miracles are performed by people themselves with the kindness of their hearts - this is the main idea a writer who saw salvation from social cataclysms in simple mutual assistance.

What does it teach?

This small work makes you think about how important it is to be indifferent to the people around us. In the hustle and bustle of days, we often forget that neighbors, acquaintances, compatriots are suffering somewhere very close by, somewhere poverty reigns and despair reigns. Entire families do not know how to earn their living and barely live to see their paycheck. Therefore, it is so important not to pass by and be able to support: with a kind word or deed.

Helping one person will not change the world, of course, but it will change one part of it, and the most important one for giving and not accepting help. The giver is enriched much more than the petitioner, because he receives spiritual satisfaction from what he has done.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

The story of A. I. Kuprin "The Miraculous Doctor", a summary of which is offered in the article, is an example of the popular in the century before last literary genre- Christmas or Christmas stories.

These were small-scale works published in issues of newspapers and magazines that were published before the New Year and Christmas - hence the name. Such stories speak of events that took place on Christmas Eve, and all of them must certainly have a happy ending.

The main idea of ​​Christmas stories is that in a difficult life situation one should never lose hope for the best.

About the work of A. I. Kuprin "The Miraculous Doctor"

In 2019, questions on the subject of his works were included in the examination tests in the literature of the main state exam(OGE) for a nine-year course, so all grade 9 graduates should be familiar with it.

Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin (1870 - 1938) - Russian writer, translator.

Kuprin was also a master of short storytelling. Among his other works, he wrote the story "The Miraculous Doctor", which was published in 1897. The work was published in the newspaper "Kievskoye Slovo" on December 25 of the same year and immediately received positive reviews from critics and rave reviews from readers.

In its first lines, the writer shares with the reader the history of the creation of his work, warning that the plot of the story is not a fairy tale, but a description of real events that took place in Kiev three decades earlier, that is, in the late 60s of the XIX century.

Main characters and their characteristics

Despite the small volume, there are two rows of characters in the story - main and secondary.

The main characters in the story are:

1. EmelyanMertsalov- the father of the family, who worked as a manager in the house of a rich man. Judging by the speech of the hero, he was an educated person, and the Mertsalov family, although they did not live well, did not feel much need. But everything changed when Emelyan fell ill with typhoid fever and the money saved up with difficulty was spent on treatment. He survived, but lost his job, because. he was quickly replaced. As a result, a large family was left without a livelihood. All attempts to find a new job are unsuccessful, Mertsalov, his wife and children are starving. One of the two daughters dies, the other becomes seriously ill. The father falls into despair, even tries to beg for alms, but no one gives him.
2. Elizaveta Ivanovna, Mertsalov's wife. She has in her arms, in addition to two sons, a sick daughter and a baby. The mother has become so weak from hunger that she has lost her milk, and the baby is starving just like the rest of the family. She, like her husband, is looking for work - she goes to the other end of the city to wash clothes for a meager fee, but this money is not even enough for firewood. Trying to help the family survive, Mertsalova writes letters asking for help from former owner husband, but received no response.
3. Volodya and Grisha - the sons of the Mertsalovs, 8 and 10 years old. They spread the mother's letters around the city, along the way watching how the residents are preparing for the celebration of Christmas. The boys stare with hungry eyes at the luxurious shop windows full of expensive food, while empty cabbage soup awaits them at home, and besides, it is cold - there is no firewood to warm up the food.
4. Mashutka, their little sister. The girl is seriously ill, she is coughing, breathing with difficulty, rushing about in the heat, delirious. She needs urgent health care, but parents do not have money for a doctor and medicines.

All the Mertsalovs, with the exception of Mashutka, take an active part in the events described, although it is around her illness that the storyline is twisted.

Another main character is Professor of Medicine Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, the same wonderful doctor after whom the story takes its name.

This is not only an excellent doctor, but also a very kind and sympathetic person, always ready to sincerely sympathize even with a stranger. He expresses his sympathy not only in words, but also in deeds.

Minor characters

There are only two of them in the story, and they become known only from the words of the main characters.

One of them - doorman in a rich house, whom the boys asked to give the owner of the house a letter written by their mother with a call for help. But the porter does not take the letter and drives the boys away.

Another minor character gentleman in raccoon coat, met by Mertsalov Sr. on the street. In response to the request of the latter to give alms, the master advises him to go to work.

From the story you can learn about the attitude of the author to his characters. So, throughout the story, the writer calls the father of the family by his last name - the reader learns about his name only when he gets to know the narrator, the same boy Grisha, who grew up and became Grigory Emelyanovich.

He calls Mertsalov's wife Elizaveta Ivanovna. Thus, Kuprin emphasizes that the stubborn nature of this woman arouses great respect in him.

Saying that Mertsalov was denied alms by a gentleman in a raccoon coat, he makes it clear that he was a very wealthy person - a coat with a raccoon collar was very expensive at that time.

With this small touch, the author shows his attitude towards people who, having not experienced any difficulties in their own lives, have a habit of teaching those who are in a difficult situation. life situation instead of just helping them. In this case, the well-known proverb comes to mind that the well-fed does not understand the hungry.

The summary of Kuprin's story can be presented in the form of a summary drawn up according to a specific plan.

Such a plan, written in reader's diary, will facilitate the retelling of the work in the form of excerpts:

• the Mertsalov brothers at the shop window;
• homecoming;
• unfulfilled order;
• father's despair;
• in the winter garden;
• meeting with the doctor;
• Mertsalov's story;
• unexpected help;
• recipe from Pirogov;
• everything is changing for the better.

The story begins with a conversation between two boys - Volodya and Grisha Mertsalovs, who, returning home, stare at the festive showcase of the grocery store. They were instructed to take a letter asking for help to the former owner of their father, but the order remained unfulfilled.

In the basement of a dilapidated house, more like a dungeon, a mother with a sick sister and a baby are waiting for them. As soon as the sons crossed the threshold, Elizaveta Ivanovna asks if they took the letter.

Volodya, the eldest of the boys, says that they did everything as she taught: he told about their plight, promised to thank the master's porter as soon as his father found a job. But he remained deaf to all these arguments - he drove the boys away, giving the younger one a slap on the back of the head. Then the boy took out a crumpled envelope from his pocket.

Soon my father returned, frozen to the core in the December frost, in a tattered light overcoat and a rumpled summer hat, without gloves and galoshes, thin, pale, with sunken cheeks, looking like a dead man. Unable to bear the spectacle of desperate need and the hungry eyes of his wife and children, he leaves home again.

Without remembering how, Mertsalov wanders into the winter garden, where, against the backdrop of trees covered with snow, peace and quiet, thoughts of suicide come to him.

But then some old man in a warm fur coat comes up to him, sits down on a bench nearby and begins to tell what gifts he bought to the children he knows. The unfortunate father cries out that he does not care about other people's children when his own are dying of hunger and disease.

The stranger asks to tell everything in detail, and the desperate man excitedly tells him about the sore. After listening, the stranger jumps up from the bench and offers to immediately go to the Mertsalovs. On the way, he gives the head of the family three rubles to buy food.

Entering the basement where the parents and children lived, he tells the elder to kindle the samovar, borrowing firewood from the neighbors, and he examines the sick girl and puts a warm compress on her. The father returns - he brings tea, sugar, white bread and hot dishes from a nearby tavern.

The doctor writes out a prescription, indicating how to take the medicine, and recommends that you see an experienced doctor tomorrow, whom he promises to warn about them. Then he leaves. An agitated Mertsalov asks him to identify himself so that he knows whom to pray for, but the stranger brushes him off.

After the stranger leaves, the family discovers several large banknotes under the prescription sheet. Arriving at the pharmacy for medicine, Mertsalov learns from the pharmacist that the prescription was written out by Pirogov himself.

The great surgeon remained in the memory of the Mertsalovs as a kind messenger from heaven: after his visit, their life began to gradually improve. The sick girl recovered, her father found a job, her mother got stronger, and the family became prosperous. The boys managed to be sent to the gymnasium at public expense.

And thirty years later, Grisha, whom the doorman had once chased away from the front entrance of a rich house, became wealthy and respected person, Grigory Emelyanovich.

Analysis of the work "The Miraculous Doctor"

The story is built in full accordance with the laws of the genre of Christmas stories, the main principle of which is the contrast of descriptions.

In its first lines, the reader sees the characters in a state of complete hopelessness, especially pronounced against the backdrop of Christmas Eve, when it seems that not only people, but also nature freezes in anticipation of something unusually bright and wonderful.

The contrast becomes even deeper when Mertsalov, having reached an extreme degree of despair, decides to end his life, wanting only one thing - the same peace as the trees surrounding him, covered with sparkling snow.

And here a decisive turning point occurs in the plot - he meets a wonderful doctor who, like a kind angel, quickly and irrevocably changes everything for the better.

Fate finally begins to smile at the heroes, and the story ends happily, as befits a Christmas story.

The basic idea

“The Miraculous Doctor” is very brief: in the book it takes up just over two pages of printed text, but this short Christmas story is filled with deep Christian meaning, it embodies the eternal hope of a person for the best, which helps to survive even when life seems unbearable.

No one can lose hope, says the writer, because everything can change literally in one moment.

As readers' reviews confirm, the story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin is full of such bright life-affirming power that it can be called a kind of literary antidepressant that helps a person survive the most difficult moments and not fall into despair.

An additional strength of the work is given by the fact that its plot is not the fruit of a writer's fantasy, but an incident from life.

Why is the story called "The Miraculous Doctor"

Kuprin heard this story from one of its participants, who told an incident from his biography.

The writer retold the events, changing only the names and surnames of the characters - all, with the exception of Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov - the great Russian scientist, a brilliant surgeon, whose name is inscribed in golden letters in the history of world and Russian medicine.

Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov (1810 - 1881) - Russian surgeon and anatomist, naturalist and teacher, professor, creator of the first atlas of topographic anatomy, founder of Russian military field surgery, founder of the Russian school of anesthesia.

Pirogov, distinguished by his extraordinary kindness and sympathy for people, became the prototype of a wonderful doctor, or rather, he was one.

The meaning of the name is that the famous doctor really performed a miracle - he saved the life of not only a sick girl, but her entire family, helped to overcome a difficult life crisis.

What does the story teach

The essence of the story "The Miraculous Doctor" by A. I. Kuprin is to remind the reader once again that not only fairy-tale wizards can perform miracles, but also the most ordinary people, including any of us.

As another Russian writer Alexander Grin said: “If a person’s soul longs for a miracle, do this miracle for him - he will have another soul, and you will have another.” And that person who has done a miracle for another will certainly get a spark of happiness for the one for whom he performed it.

A. Kuprin wrote stories and stories not only about love. The themes of philanthropy and mercy were also raised in his work. As many have noted, the writer loved to study people and all the phenomena of life. Therefore, it is not surprising that it affected such important questions. Kindness and mercy are discussed in the story "The Miraculous Doctor", an analysis of which is presented below.

History of creation

In the analysis of The Miraculous Doctor, the following should be noted: even at the very beginning of the story, the author sets the reader in a serious mood. He writes that this story- this is not an invention. And in fact, this amazing story was told to Kuprin by a familiar banker.

The work was written in 1897, when the writer was in Kiev. His friend told about the events that happened about 30 years ago. This is a story about a family on the verge of despair. They huddled in a closet, there was no money, not only for food and medicine, they had nothing to make a fire with.

The narrator's sister fell ill, and there was nothing to treat. Parents tried to find some money, but they were chased away from everywhere. And, when the head of the family had already decided to commit suicide, a New Year's miracle happened to him. He met the famous doctor Pirogov. Nikolai Ivanovich helped a poor family and did not even begin to give his name. Only later did they learn that it was Pirogov Nikolai Ivanovich.

As noted by those who knew the doctor, for him such disinterested help was natural. He was distinguished by his philanthropy, mercy. He brought happiness to the Mertsalov family: after his visit, their life improved, things went well. This story impressed the writer so much that he created a work that belongs to the genre of Christmas stories.

Features of building a composition

In the analysis of "The Miraculous Doctor" one should note the features of the composition. At the very beginning, the author describes two boys who are standing and looking at the shop windows - bright, festive. But when they go home, the environment becomes darker, gloomier. There are no more festive lights, and their house looks like a dungeon. The whole work is built on such contrasts.

Everyone is getting ready for New Year's holiday, decorate Christmas trees, buy gifts. Everyone is making noise, fussing, and people have nothing to do with the poor Mertsalov family. They had no money, they were in a very difficult situation. And such a sharp transition from the holiday to darkness allows the reader to feel the despair of the Mertsalovs more deeply.

In the analysis of "The Miraculous Doctor" it should be noted that there is a contrast among the characters. The head of the family is shown as a weak man, so desperate that he sees only one way out - to commit suicide. And Pirogov is shown as a kind, strong, active person. And he, like a ray of light, illuminates the darkness in the Mertsalov family. The contrast made it possible to convey the importance of the meeting of those people with Pirogov, all the miraculousness of his appearance.

Main idea of ​​the story

In the analysis of "The Miraculous Doctor" Kuprin, it is necessary to highlight main idea works. The writer wanted to show how rare qualities of mercy, attention to one's neighbor, selflessness have become, that they are perceived as a miracle. Author by example famous person showed how one good deed can make a difference better life others.

Why was the story named that way?

In the analysis of the work "The Miraculous Doctor" it is also worth explaining the meaning of the title of the story. Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov was an amazing person. He possessed on fact miraculous abilities - kindness. It was these qualities that Kuprin highly valued in people. And for him, their manifestation was like a miracle. The writer wanted to show that good deeds should not only be done on holidays, but should be done daily. Then every day in a person's life will be wonderful.

It seems to all of us that we are free to think in one way or another and as we please; but, on the other hand, each of us feels and knows that this apparent freedom has a limit, beyond which thinking becomes madness. This is because our thinking is subject to the laws of higher world thinking. Meanwhile, our cerebral mind, which does not know any other way of thinking than its own, and is convinced by experience that it depends on the brain, when considering outside world can reach such an illusion that there is no other thought in it than our own. This illusion can even go so far that it seems to us that the world thought simply does not exist at all in itself, but only as a product of our own mind. Yes, if we were not sure of the existence of the external world as firmly as in our own, then everything that our investigation reveals in it is expedient and, as it were, deliberately and independently arranged, we could, perhaps, take for a work one of our minds and our imaginations. N. I. Pirogov
And so the question involuntarily arises: could we really not walk otherwise than with the help of our legs, or do we only walk because we have legs? Can we really think only through the medium of the brain, or do we think only because there is a brain? Seeing the inexhaustible multitude of means by which certain goals are achieved in the universe around us, can we assert that the mind could and should have been the only function of the brain? Do not the bee, ant, etc., animals, even without the help of the brain of vertebrates, provide us with examples of amazing ingenuity, striving for a goal, and even creativity? N. I. Pirogov
K. Kuznetsov and V. Sidoruk. Miraculous doctor
Cover of the work of N. I. Pirogov "Military medical business and private assistance in the theater of war with Bulgaria and in the rear of the army in 1877-1878."
A. Sidorov. Tchaikovsky at Pirogov

There are people in the history of culture and society who, through their activities and efforts, leave traces so firmly and naturally entering our lives that it seems to us that it has always been like this and cannot be otherwise. As if something is showing them the way, and their steps, random at first glance, are not at all random and not chaotic, but expedient and necessary. But only later generations see it. The lot of such people falls to painful questions and struggle to overcome the established order of things and pave the way for a new one. Studying their destinies, you begin to understand that nothing happens by itself in history, that it is created by the hands and efforts of very specific people, with their own shortcomings and advantages, in fact, the same as you and I, and maybe even ourselves. ... Well, isn't that amazing?! Take a closer look, because our culture and life itself hangs in the balance, and if you leave it to itself, stop someone making efforts, everything will break, roll, fall apart ... So what and who keeps it? Who and what fastens the seams that are constantly threatening to disperse between us? Here is the question.

First steps

One of the favorite games of Kolya Pirogov was the game of a doctor: she "as if lifted ... the veil of the future." This original game owes its origin to the illness of the elder brother, to whom the doctor came. At the age of 14, Nikolai became a student at the medical faculty of Moscow University, where they lectured on the basis of materials almost a century old, and on final exam“it was necessary to describe in words or paper some operation on Latin". Clinical practice was reduced to writing a medical history of a patient seen once ...

After Moscow, there was Derpt University, where the best students were trained for professorship. Russian students. Entering there, it was necessary to decide on a specialization, and Pirogov chose surgery. Why? “But go and find out from yourself why? Probably I don’t know, but it seems to me that somewhere from afar, some inner voice suggested surgery here. ” However, young doctor other sciences were also interested, at which his comrades laughed: then it was customary to do one thing and even surgeons did not consider it necessary to study anatomy. Later, it was Pirogov who created a new and then revolutionary science - surgical anatomy.

After Dorpat, the young professor Pirogov had a two-year internship in Berlin, returning from which, due to illness, he stopped in Riga for several months. Having recovered, Nikolai Ivanovich performed several very successful operations there, at the request of the hospital residents he demonstrated some operations on corpses and gave a course of lectures. One of the old residents said this to the 25-year-old Pirogov: “You taught us what our teachers did not know either.”

At the age of 26, he became a professor of surgery at the University of Derpt and during his four years of work there won the great love of students and published several monographs and books, including two volumes of clinical annals, where, contrary to the accepted style, he described not examples of successful diagnoses, treatments and recoveries, but their mistakes and failures, without hiding anything and thereby allowing their students to avoid the same mistakes.

“Serving science, in general any, is nothing other than serving the truth. Here access to the truth is hampered not only by scientific obstacles, that is, those that can be removed with the help of science. No, in applied science, in addition to these obstacles, human passions, prejudices and weaknesses from different sides affect access to truth and make it often completely inaccessible ... For a teacher of such an applied science as medicine, which deals directly with all the attributes of human nature ... requires, in addition to scientific information and experience, also conscientiousness, acquired only by the difficult art of self-consciousness, self-control and knowledge of human nature. In fact, Pirogov writes about the doctor’s work on himself, about inner work, a certain moral effort, about the choice between the doctor’s professional interest in the patient and human touch to him, and this is what allows, according to Pirogov, to be both a good scientist and a good doctor.

Father of Russian surgery

In the struggle with life's difficulties, poverty, even need, the character of Pirogov was formed, preparing him for the field in which he was to deploy all the forces of his nature and leave deep traces. In 1841, 30-year-old Pirogov accepted an offer to become a professor at the Department of Surgery at the Medical and Surgical Academy in St. Petersburg, on the condition that he organize a department of hospital surgery so that students would receive practical medical education.

Nikolai Ivanovich reorganized the MCA hospital and assumed the duties of the chief physician of the surgical department. Here is what he wrote about the impending feat of Hercules, cleaning the Augean stables: “The picture was truly terrifying: huge hospital wards (for 60-100 beds), poorly ventilated, were overcrowded with patients with erysipelas, acute purulent edema and purulent blood poisoning. There was not a single, even bad, room for operations. Rags for poultices and compresses were transferred by paramedics without a twinge of conscience from the wounds of one patient to another, and sometimes they were removed from the corpses and simply dried. The drugs dispensed from the hospital pharmacy looked like anything but drugs...” Theft among the staff. Scurvy among the sick. Hostility towards the young surgeon, not too scrupulous in the choice of means. Open hostility, gossip, slander - everything was put into action. And the requirement for doctors to perform operations in clean white coats aroused suspicion of clouding his mental faculties. Yes, our dear reader, and it was not so long ago - a century and a half ago in an enlightened European power ... Who would have thought, because it is so natural for a doctor, especially in an operating room - a clean white coat.

In 1847, Pirogov went to our eternally hot spot - to the Caucasus, where he introduced ether anesthesia into practice, and, taking into account our human psychology, he invited other wounded to operations so that they could see for themselves the effectiveness and safety of the method. Now it is, in a sense, a natural part of our life, but then we had to substantiate, prove, convince. And a little later, on Crimean War, he, having peeped how the sculptor works, began to use plaster bandages for fractures instead of much less effective popular prints or starch ones - and saved many wounded officers and soldiers from amputation.

From what little things sometimes great things grow! One day, passing by the market on Sennaya in St. Petersburg, Pirogov drew attention to a cut of a frozen pork carcass. As a result, "ice", or topographic, anatomy was born, which allowed doctors to more effectively study human body and avoid many surgical errors that could cost the lives of more than one unfortunate. The first anatomical atlas created by Pirogov using this method is still used by students.

There is no need to list all the achievements of Nikolai Ivanovich, all the innovations, all the methods that still bear his name and are used by modern surgeons. For the most part, only doctors will understand this, but for the rest, in relation to medicine, acting as patients, it will be more important to know that Pirogov, for all his fame and extensive practice, never took money for operations - not from members royal family, nor from the last poor man who trusted in him as his only hope. Kuprin's story "The Wonderful Doctor" is about him.

sisters of mercy

A special era in the life of Pirogov is the Sevastopol War. As a doctor and as a person who did not want to remain indifferent to what was happening, he applied to be sent to the front. After a long silence, a completely unexpected answer came. He was invited by Elena Pavlovna, wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, son of Paul I, founder of the Russian Museum Society, midwifery and clinical institutes, head of the Mariinsky and Pavlovsk Women's Institutes.

Announcing that she took responsibility for resolving his request, she told him about her plan to establish women's assistance to the sick and wounded and offered Pirogov the role of organizer and leader. Despite the widespread belief that the presence of women leads to corruption in the troops, that women are unable to live and provide assistance in the most difficult conditions of war, Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna, who saw the highest and best vocation of a woman in sometimes healing, often helping and always relieving, addressed an appeal to Russian women who wished to "take on the high and difficult duties of sisters of mercy", and already in October 1854, at her own expense, she founded the Exaltation of the Cross Community of Sisters of Care for the Wounded and Sick Soldiers. Pirogov fully shared the views of the Grand Duchess: “It has already been proven by experience that no one better than women can sympathize with the suffering of the patient and surround him with cares that are not known and, so to speak, not characteristic of men.” Pirogov considered the principle of “living on earth not only for himself” the basis of sisterly mercy. So in 1854, from a small group of 35 sisters, with the most active and attentive participation of Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, the future Russian Red Cross was born.

Then, during this infamous Crimean campaign, Pirogov developed the rules for working with the wounded, thereby creating an almost new branch of surgery - military field. He formulated the principles of hygiene for patients, the foundations of therapeutic nutrition, and in all this, oddly enough, he had to overcome again and again both misunderstanding and opposition from those who were uncomfortable with an active, honest doctor. And Pirogov was an enemy of canonical decisions, an enemy of calmness, leading to stagnation and inertia: "Life does not fit into the narrow framework of the doctrine, and its changeable casuistry cannot be expressed by any dogmatic formulas."

Pirogov-teacher

From the very first steps, still a young professor, Pirogov was a real teacher, caring about the professional growth not only of his own, but also of new generations of young doctors. “Let only those who want to learn learn, that is their business. But who wants to learn from me, he must learn something - this is my business, every conscientious teacher should think so. Hence his gigantic contribution to the system of education and teaching of medicine, which moved from the theory, and sometimes unfounded fantasies of professors, who often saw the patient only from the height of the department, to practical training on specific examples, specific operations demonstrated by the teacher.

The merit of Pirogov also lies in the fact that he saw the need to combine professional and moral education. We have already talked about his innovation in the first: now it would never occur to anyone to doubt the importance of professionalism. But with regard to the second, his ideas even today (alas, unfortunately in this case) sound almost revolutionary. The call to educate, first of all, a person endowed with a moral sense, not only having strong convictions, but also able to defend them, live by them in practice, ready for life's struggle and efforts, and only then take care of his professional growth and skill - sounds very, very modern . These thoughts are not accidental, they are the result of a long inner path Pirogov - from a materialist due to ignorance of matter, as he himself said, to a person who reveals the meaning of human existence, life, love, immortality, recognizing the essence of the inner person and seeking God. Interestingly, two such different people - what unites them? Sincerity, a heart responsive to someone else's pain, honesty in front of oneself, the desire to always be, and not seem? .. Probably.

Questions of life

Pirogov spent his last years on his estate in Vyshna (part of present-day Vinnitsa). There he wrote his confession - the last and most amazing book, largely not understood until now: “Questions of life. The diary of an old doctor, written exclusively for himself, but not without a back thought that maybe someday someone else will read it. November 5, 1879 - October 22, 1881. Pirogov himself seems to be surprised at his discoveries: “I talk about everything in my worldview about the world mind, about world thought. Where is the brain of the world? Thought without a brain and without words! Isn't that absurd in the mouth of a doctor? But a bee and an ant think without a brain, and doesn't the whole animal kingdom think without words? We are free to call thought only one human, cerebral, verbal and humanly conscious thought! And for me it is only a manifestation of a common thought, spread everywhere, creating and managing everything. Nevertheless, the 70-year-old, wise with vast experience, who has gone through fire and water, who has performed tens of thousands of operations, a surgeon, an empiricist to the marrow of his bones, comes to the conclusion that this same brain is not the only conductor of the idea that life is much wider and deeper and is not limited only to a biological organism: “Life is a meaningful, limitless acting force, which controls all the properties of matter (that is, its forces), striving, moreover, continuously to achieve a certain goal: the implementation and support of being. In this, Pirogov became the forerunner of Russian cosmists - Tsiolkovsky, Vernadsky ... In his little-known notes, the ideas that Paracelsus spoke about in the Middle Ages, a thousand years earlier late XIX century such great philosophers as Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Nikolai Hartmann and others.

Behind these pages, which he filled almost daily for the last two years before his death, we see a philosopher who poses the most serious questions, reflects, searches, reveres the mystery and mystery that suddenly opens up to him: “... of all the world's mysteries, the most cherished and the most restless for us is “I”. There is, however, another, even more cherished, truth. But if every leaf, every seed, every crystal reminds us of the existence outside of us and in ourselves of a mysterious laboratory in which everything tirelessly works for itself and for the environment, with purpose and thought, then our own consciousness constitutes for us an even more intimate and at the same time the most disturbing mystery. I really want this book to find in our time, after a hundred years of oblivion, its new thoughtful reader. And the questions raised by Pirogov made us look for an answer today.

Salt of the earth

Glorious and amazing fate. Struggle and love, service to the motherland and disgrace are the traditions of the Russian intellectual. Maybe it is said about such people - “salt of the earth”, maybe they are that thread, the hair on which life is held, still continues to hold us. And the question is not in plaster bandages or anesthesia as such. The question is the humanity behind this and without which all these innovations lose their meaning. Humanity, which thanks to such people holds us together. This, perhaps, is the main meaning of everything that Pirogov did, and main lesson him for us.

This November you, Nikolai Ivanovich, celebrate your 200th birthday. Thank you doctor.

	is a famous surgeon and musician. Beethoven himself highly appreciated his musical talent, and Pushkin, who consulted the famous doctor more than once, could probably appreciate his medical talent. The professor's house was one of the most interesting in Dorpat. Many remarkable people of that era were here: the poets Zhukovsky and Yazykov, Pushkin's friend Wulf, the sons of the Russian historian Karamzin. Judging by the memoirs, Moyer, “a remarkable and highly talented person,” lost interest in science over the years, “did not perform operations that were especially difficult and risky.” The appearance in Dorpat of several gifted students, and Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov, who especially stood out among them, seemed to return the professor to his former life. He again gave his all to medicine and his new students.
	Nikolai Pirogov and became friends in Dorpat, where they studied surgery together with Professor Moyer. Here is how Pirogov himself describes their first meeting: “Once, shortly after our arrival in Derpt, we hear some strange, but unfamiliar sounds at our window from the street: a Russian song on some instrument. We look, a student in a uniform is standing ... holding something in his mouth and playing: “hello, my dear, my good one,” without paying any attention to us. The instrument turned out to be an organ (labial), and the virtuoso was V. I. Dal.” Pirogov was ten years younger than Dahl, but by that time he had already graduated from Moscow University, and Moyer was also the best student. Usually stingy with praise, Nikolai Ivanovich highly appreciated the medical talent of his friend and saw him as a future famous surgeon, and when he defended his medical dissertation, he became his official opponent. Dal lived up to Pirogov's hopes for some time and became a good specialist in plastic and eye surgery, but his love for literature and the Russian language turned out to be stronger in him.
I. Quiet. N. I. Pirogov examines the patient D. I. Mendeleev	Since childhood, Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev he was in poor health, and when his throat began to bleed, the doctors considered that the last degree of consumption had begun. Institute friends managed to arrange an audience for Dmitry Ivanovich with the court physician Zdekauer, and he, having listened to him, advised him to urgently go to the Crimea, and at the same time show Pirogov there, just in case. In the Crimea at that time there was a war. Pirogov operated from early morning until late evening. Mendeleev came to his hospital every morning, but, seeing what the great physician was doing, he immediately left, believing that Pirogov was now more needed by the wounded. After some time, Dmitry Ivanovich decided to go up to Pirogov. Imagine his surprise when he, having carefully examined him, said: “Here, my friend, here is a letter from your Zdekauer. Save him and someday give him back. And give my regards. You will outlive both of us." The prediction came true exactly: Mendeleev outlived both Pirogov and Zdekauer.
S. Prisekin. Pirogov and Garibaldi	In the summer of 1862, Giuseppe Garibaldi was wounded in the leg. This was the most severe of the ten wounds received. national hero Italy for a lifetime. Although the best doctors in Europe tried to help him, he did not get better. And then they decided to invite Pirogov and even collected a thousand rubles for his trip. Pirogov refused the money, but he came himself. Thanks to his advice, practical and simple, Garibaldi's condition soon began to improve. Having recovered, he thanked the Russian doctor with this letter: “My dear doctor Pirogov! My wound is almost healed. I feel the need to thank you for the kindness you have generously shown me. Accept, dear Doctor, my assurances of devotion. Yours D. Garibaldi. For many years, a valuable relic in the Pirogovs' house was a photograph of Giuseppe Garibaldi with his dedicatory inscription.
I. E. Repin. Portrait of A. F. Koni	Our well-known historian Solovyov says that peoples love to erect monuments to their outstanding people, but these people themselves, through their activities, erect a monument to their people. Pirogov also erected such a monument, glorifying Russian name far beyond the borders of their homeland. In the days of doubts and painful thoughts about the fate of the motherland, Turgenev did not want to believe that the mighty, truthful Russian language would not be given to the great people. But can't the same be said about the best representatives this people? And when, in the midst of the fog of sad phenomena and the properties of our everyday reality, you remember that our people had Peter and Lomonosov, Pushkin and Tolstoy ... that they finally gave Pirogov, then one cannot help but believe that this people not only can, but also must have a bright future...
	The “Diary of an Old Doctor” left by Pirogov makes it possible to look into his soul not as a public figure and a famous scientist: it makes it possible to hear the voice of a person’s heart, the person that Pirogov wanted to educate in every young man. This heart is filled with deep and touching faith in a higher Providence and tenderness before the precepts of Christ. Life teaches that Christ has many servants but few real followers. One of the last was Pirogov. A. F. Koni "Pirogov and the school of life"
Rummaging in the archive of our memory in old age, we are struck, first of all, by the inexplicable identity and integrity of our “I”. We clearly feel that we are no longer what we were in childhood, and at the same time we feel no less clearly that our "I" has remained in us or with us from the very moment we began to remember ourselves until today, and we know for sure that it will remain until the last breath, unless we die in unconsciousness or in a lunatic asylum. Strange, surprisingly strange is this feeling of the identity of our "I" in different, barely similar to one another portraits, with different opposite feelings, beliefs and views on ourselves, on life, on everything around ... The self-perception of being, and how it should inevitably to be in us from the cradle to the grave, but how and by what it makes itself known to itself and others - whether by a personal pronoun, or some other conventional sign, this does not change the essence of the matter in the slightest. N. I. Pirogov

to the magazine "Man Without Borders"

An important character in Kuprin's story is Pirogov. The hero was created on the basis of the image of a military surgeon named Nikolai Ivanovich. So Pirogov definitely has a prototype. This makes the character look stately.

How does the doctor appear in the work? From the first paragraphs, it is understood that Pirogov is a rather educated, intelligent and sympathetic person. His literacy can be traced in simple communication with others. He is ready to help those in need at any moment. So Professor Pirogov provides support and invaluable help to the Mertsalov family. It seemed that in modern world there is no place for such simple qualities as kindness, sympathy, mutual assistance. However, Pirogov is a clear proof that in life there are people who are capable of compassion and mutual assistance.

He is the most ordinary person, but "his face is intelligent, serious." This hero has a good heart. In his appearance there is something "inspiring confidence". Even Pirogov's voice is too sweet and calm. The character is very kind to people around him. It's nice to have a conversation with him, Pirogov, who was created by the well-known Kuprin, really attracts attention.

The simplicity of the hero is attractive. He is so modest and ordinary that it sinks into the very heart. This proves that an ordinary person is capable of graceful acts, and does not require anything in return.

No wonder Pirogov himself claims: in order to achieve what you want, you should never lose heart. Otherwise, all efforts are in vain. Therefore, in any situation, the hero never gives up. He is able to complete what he started, even if it is incredibly difficult. Pirogov is not afraid of obstacles, he is a man of action, a man of mercy, a man of kindness, a man of calmness.

The doctor is far from being in distress, but wears rather simple clothes. This emphasizes the hero as a modest, easy-to-communicate person.

So, Kuprin managed to draw an extraordinary image of Pirogov, which to this day remains in our hearts! The author wanted to convey to us, young readers, that there is a place for compassion and help in the world! Remained in life good people who, in the most difficult moment, will break into your house and completely turn your fate for the better. And it's worth living for! We must love people, we must not live for ourselves, we must believe that in the world the concept of "mutual assistance" has not yet exhausted itself! This is what Kuprin's story "The Wonderful Doctor" teaches. And it is not in vain that the writer created such a wonderful hero! Not intentionally!

Characteristics and image of Pirogov

Kuprin's story "The Wonderful Doctor" describes real story from life ordinary people. Dr. Pirogov is central acting character works. Thanks to his warmth and ability to feel the pain and grief of other people, he saved the Mertsalov family, who found themselves in a difficult life situation.

The family lived in a small room, the stove was heated with wood. During the meeting with the doctor, the head of the family was fired from work, his daughter and wife became seriously ill, there was practically no money for food, they were starving. It was then, when there was no way out of this situation, that the man met Dr. Pirogov. One went, happy for the holiday with gifts (pies), and the other was in terrible despair. Having learned about a serious trouble in this family, Pirogov made every effort to help them. He helped cure the mother and child, gave money and, most importantly, gave them hope that everything would be fine. And in fact, a little time passed and well-being came to this family. The man appears new job and material wealth.

Dr. Pirogov was an ordinary person, he did not have much capital, he always wore the same jacket. But his penetrating look, affectionate, intelligent face and kind heart attracted those around him, people trusted and loved him. Pirogov could treat not only various diseases, but also the human soul. Everywhere, no matter what house he went into, he saved a person, without demanding material goods and fame from anyone. He was a real doctor, a professional in his field. Having once given the Hippocratic oath, he steadfastly adhered to it. Anyone in need could count on selfless help and support.

Dr. Pirogov did every good deed from the bottom of his heart, without even thinking about some kind of his own benefit. Providing assistance and support to the Mertsalov family, he did not even tell them his name.

The “wonderful doctor” Pirogov is an amazing and kind-hearted person who instills hope in people and helps to find strength and overcome the greatest difficulties in life. The image of Dr. Pirogov is the purity of the soul, mercy and kindness. It is these important qualities that should be inside every person. Only when people learn to sympathize and help each other, the whole world will be healthy and prosperous.

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